The Spirit of Giving

It was Christmas several years ago when the boys were small and we were on our way to Grandma’s house to celebrate the holiday. The trip was about a three-hour trip and half way there is where my brother, Jay, lived so we always stopped there on our way. He loved seeing the boys and they him. It seemed like they had so much fun and this stop was always one that they looked forward to. This particular year in my life was a time when all of our needs had been met and we were healthy and happy and I had what I perceived to be extra money for the first time in my life. I remember feeling so blessed and I was experiencing this new feeling, not sure what to call it…maybe just the same eagerness and excitement that children experience at Christmas.

When we got to Jay’s house it was time for a break and the excitement had built to a frenzy…the kids were so excited to see him and they were also ready for a bathroom break!!! Mom too!!!! There was and is great love shared between my boys and Jay. As always, he had made special holiday arrangements and had cookies or cupcakes and of course, there was always gifts beautifully wrapped with the boy’s names on them. The kids were three and five at the time and were so excited their little faces dawned nothing but smiles and their laughter was infectious.


We had a great visit together and it was time for us to gather our things and continue our trip to Grandma’s. The kids really didn’t want to go as they were having such a great time and as far as they were concerned, they were in “yes-land.” Who in their right mind would ever want to leave?? Jay had given them some extraordinary gifts that they loved, as he was always very good at choosing the perfect gifts for them. We said our “thank yous” and gave our kisses and hugs in preparation to leave. For you parents out there, you understand that it takes a few minutes to gather the kids and their belongings and me and mine and to make sure I hadn’t forgotten anything. One last bathroom check for the boys to make sure everybody can make it the next hour without a stop.

Before we left and after the boys had been taken care of, I went through the house just checking one last time to make sure we had everything, but actually I had something else in mind. I had a surprise for Jay already planned and I think that I was as excited about my ability to give something extra and to surprise someone completely unsuspecting that I could hardly keep the secret. I had a hundred dollar bill that I had planned to leave on his mirror. I put some water on the bill and it stuck to his mirror…it was great…so when he walked into the room he couldn’t help but see it. I wrote on the mirror with lipstick…”Merry Christmas...Love Savvy Santa!!” I had given a lot of thought to this Christmas surprise and I knew that he wouldn’t discover the gift until we were gone which is exactly what I wanted to happen. Jay has always been a Philanthropist so I thought it was a blessing to be able to give back to him for all of his generosity throughout the years. He has reached out and given his helping hand to many, many people in need, including me.

I was overwhelmed with joy in my heart when I stuck the bill to the mirror. I can say that my heart had never been so full of love…my eyes were full of tears of joy, which, of course, I had to tissue away so as not to ruin the surprise. So, this was my first experience with giving something extra and I have been driven ever since to do whatever, whenever I can simply because of the joy. The joy extends beyond the physical and into the heart and soul. The quote used most frequently regarding the act of giving is, “It is better to give than to receive,” however, I can’t say that for me it was better to give than to receive; my experience was that while in the process of giving, I was receiving more joy and love in my heart than I had ever felt before. The sheer joy of giving created an unexpected joy of receiving for me. The most beautiful aspect of this experience was to be able to touch someone’s heart. Since that experience, my prayer has been to be able to extend Loving-Kindness with generosity. That is what Bliss is for me. I am thankful and grateful for my experiences including being able to share this story with you. It is the giving and receiving in our hearts that is “The Heart of The Matter.” Those experiences birth feelings of Inspiration, Happiness, and Peace of Mind. May this holiday bring joy to your heart and may you be blessed always.

About the Author: Savannah Blue is a Freelance Writer, a Spiritual Comforter and Motivator, and an amateur photographer and is also a publisher and entrepreneur. She is the Co-founder and Co-producer of Yourelevatedlife and YourElevatedLife Radio Show. Her passion is assisting others in becoming aware of and fulfilling their unlimited potential. She is "Living her Dreams" at the beach with the love of her life and working from home doing what she loves to do...help others live their Dreams!