Sunday, April 10, 2016

The Truest Gifts

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 Linking with Poets United for Poetry Pantry 297 posted by Mary



Love cures people—both the ones who give it and the ones who receive it.
 ~Karl Menninger




It is in the giving of true love and refuge 
that we receive it at its softest core.
It folds back like a large soft blanket
and warms the original giver once more.
You cannot truly give it and not in turn
truly reap it's truest gift
for giving and receiving in some ways
are strongly connected at the hip.


Giving is receiving and receiving is giving....that is how it seems it can be sometimes to me.  When we learn to give graciously and we learn to receive graciously; we learn something about true gifts and giving back and how they are in so many ways connected.  If you know anyone that is deeply involved in the process of recovery of AA, CR, or NA, then you have seen someone that is in the process of consistently giving back to others.  The wonderful truth of it is this:  the act of giving of oneself is a very rewarding thing.  Having said that, I would like to share a story from when I was 11 years old:

My father had just married my new step mother, and we were driving home from a long day out.  It was dark and I was very tired dozing off in the car in between them in the front seat.  My step mother graciously laid my head upon her lap so that I could rest for the remainder of the trip.  I still member it like it was yesterday.  I held my head slightly hovered at her lap, and never truly let my head rest upon her legs.  Looking back, I am not sure why I could not relax and receive her gift of comfort.  It was a sweet gesture that no one else had ever offered before, and I guess I just did not know how to receive it completely.  I realize now, that it was a gracious gift that I missed out on affecting her as well as me, and it is a good example of how giving and receiving are truly connected at the hip.  

23 comments:

  1. What a poignant story, Carrie. I am sure she was wise enough to understand that with repeated kindness, you would learn to accept her gifts.

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  2. There's a deep connection between giving & receiving, Carrie.
    Glad you got to experience and learn

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  3. Oh I so love the story you gave... and how love in giving and receiving is connected at the hip... and what gift it is to receive love... and how gracious it is to receive it well... wonderful Carrie.

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  4. Beautiful poem that depicts the refuge and warmth of love given and received and the impact is further developed in the sharing of your personal story, Carrie :-)

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  5. What a beautiful story and message! Thank you for sharing this.

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  6. So true -- the giver often receives the greatest of gifts! I really liked the story you told, Carrie. We can learn...

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  7. I love the poem and the background that feeds it. Giving and receiving are, indeed, blessings. And when we fail to honor any of the two, we end up taking from ourselves.

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  8. So true and what a touching story... give wholeheartedly and receive graciously..indeed life's most important lessons.

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  9. Forgiveness also walks hand in hand with love,

    Elizabeth

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  10. Thank you for sharing this heartfelt story as well Carrie..

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  11. Your story, itself, is a gift of realization & inspiration to me, Carrie. Thank you for sharing them to us! :)

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  12. This is beautiful! Thanks for sharing :D

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  13. Beautiful. I also enjoyed getting to meet you in your recent interview.
    ZQ

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  14. Receiving particularly requires trust..if it has been absent it is something that must be learnt in a way - thankfully there are always kind souls who never give up and try to find a way to give us even a little of what we need

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  15. It can be hard, but we do the best we can....

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  16. I think sometimes it's even harder to receive than to give. But it's so important to accept and understand the importance of both. Thank you for sharing this story Carrie. It's beautiful.

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  17. It feels when our gift is valuable,from the heart, even if there nothing back immediately, the Universe makes sure we will receive it later... you have golden heart, Carrie...

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  18. You cannot truly give it and not in turn
    truly reap it's truest gift

    It is in the giving that creates a ripple effect. The good thing is that the kindness will be returned not directly but to others at different times. You would have the opportunity to do lots of good after that loving gesture of your a new stepmother. Hank certainly feels so as stepmothers have been known to be nasty. You are most blessed Carrie! Wonderful take and very educational!

    Hank

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  19. For being full person it should be balance between give and receive.

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  20. Oh, Carrie this so, touches my heart~ So, true to remember both ends of the candle are important for us to see the glow of love and the light that shines from it! This touched my heart-thank you, Carrie! @>----------

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  21. This speaks to the irony that sometimes receiving is actually more difficult than giving...

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  22. Thanks for sharing such a lovely story. Just found your blog. I still have to go through your older posts. Following you for more. :)

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"Our best thoughts come from others." ~Ralph Waldo Emerson