Hey everybody! Here I am again! My inspirations sneak in once in a blue moon and whisper an idea in my ear. Usually it is between cooking and listening to the boys try to kill each other for fun. Or the little ones are whining for a movie, and my teenager is busy telling me which friend did what to who in her class today. All the background noise makes it so hard to hear that little voice!
So I decided to ask a friend of mine, Shikma Benmelech, a fellow blogger like me what she thinks… and she told me. And told me and told me! She was truly amazing! I started to think that my little voice got tired of talking to me when I am not listening, so he went to talk to her instead. After talking to her he came to me and said “Go talk to Shikma! Maybe to her you will listen.” And I did!
The two e-mails that I received from Shikma were full of amazing gifts for me. Ideas and advice that will hopefully last me a long time. In honor of her gift to me I chose to write this post about the magic of giving a gift. Giving truly has a special magic to it, for the giver as well as the receiver.
Everyone likes getting a gift. It gives you that special feeling that someone thought of you, of what you need or of what would make you happy. Who doesn’t like to walk in and find a gift wrapped box on their table or a single red rose tied with a ribbon on their pillow? Just the thought of it lights that warm feeling inside and makes me smile.
I also know the way I feel when I give. When I see the surprise and glint of pleasure in the eye of the receiver, it makes me feel like I did something good. Yesterday I had a baking day and decided that I had way too much baked for keeping it all for my family. So I thought for a moment, who could really use some fresh-baked muffins and cookies? Then I remembered a good friend that does not have baking talent and always gets excited about my love for it (I am obsessed with DIY baking as well!). So I packed up a little baggie with cookies and a plate of choco-chip cinnamon muffins, and went to knock on her door. After giving it to her I am positive that I got the better deal out of giving. The whole family was so excited! I still can see her as the smile spread across her face.
That wonderful feeling is what made me start the Gift Shop. This way I can create the beautiful gifts I love to make, and share them with others. With every creation I feel the excitement of wondering, “Who will get to enjoy this new creation?”
People are basically good. We all have a need to give, to share, and to bring someone to a feeling of joy and happiness. Everything else is just what we do because we have to. We have to live and life demands certain things from us. Those things are certainly not the true pleasures of life. I like to remember the true pleasures of life and to do what makes me feel good about myself.
I create because I enjoy it. I like to give because I like the feeling of giving. The way the world works is “buy and sell”. That is what makes an economy and economic stability. It is a necessity that life demands, but I refuse to let those demands change my spiritual demands and emotional happiness.
So I have my gift store and it is waiting for its grand opening…. It is coming. Very soon… Perhaps you too will find there a gift that you would like to give to someone you love.
WoodArt by Shaina 
