Hi everyone and a Blessed Christmas! I hope you are all enjoying time with your family this season specially if you are on vacation or on leave. If you are on your job or business nonetheless I hope when you come home you enjoy it with your family.
So as my family’s tradition, we siblings come here in our humble house in our barangay Dulag here in Binmaley, Pangasinan to celebrate Christmas with our mom(our dad already passed away) and our “pamankins”(niece and nephews). We are blessed this year as well since we have an additional member of the family; the littlest guy Andres Jacob Delos Angeles Dugenia.
So it’s Christmas and as my co-worker always tries to sing it right “it’s the most wonderful time of the year”. It is also what we say as the season of giving and receiving. That is why I post this question: Is it better to receive or give?
Of course it so heartwarming if you receive something for Christmas. It simply means somebody remembers and gives importance to you. And it is better if you get what you have been wishing for. But often times we don’t get what we want. And worst we got something so cheap and end up disappointed because the gift we gave is pricier than what we got. Sad realities.
Receiving should be done with humility. Often times instead of being thankful we rant and complain and worst flare up in social media making “pasaring”. Be humble and thankful no matter what the gift is. Gratitude just like what we have been teaching in financial advocacies should be practice everyday.If your stock investment gained be thankful even if it is so small.If your employer praised you and gave you a recognition be thankful even if there is no cash incentive equivalent. Be thankful that your efforts are acknowledge. When your small business starts to gain profit and gain solid customers be thankful and continue to do your business right so that customers will stay loyal to your business and even be there for you when you needed them most.
On the other side of the coin is giving. Give to the best that you can be.
Some people will question you why you gave this person who does not deserve your kindness. Little that we know giving is actually a gift to the giver. Giving gives joy not only to the person that will receive but also to the person that gave. Again as we have been teaching in financial literacy giving means you are in a better financial standpoint. Your finances are okay that you are able to spend to give. But not all giving should be financially backed.
Of all things the best things in life are truly priceless. You may not have money to buy the best gifts but you have the most valuable thing in human life: TIME.
So always give time to your aging parents. Soon they wont be around. They missed the old days when you were still kids running around in the house during Christmas shouting with joy that you receive your dream truck car or your cute doll. This time of the year at least come home to sit down in the table to have breakfast/lunch/dinner with them and talk about the happiest days of your lives.
For parents who have been away for so long have time with your kids. Soon they will grow up and they wont be there to bug you. For our OFW countrymen an hour of face to face via Skype or FB is the least you could do. your presence makes a difference. Children now a day are not like in our days that even a recorded tape message makes a difference. Seeing you interacting with them will keep them from straying away from the values our great ancestors has imparted to you and me.
So don’t say that you don’t have money to buy gifts. remember that the greatest gift that you can give is time. And I assure you, you will feel great satisfaction with it.
Again a Blessed Christmas to you all.