CHRISTMAS TOKENS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 14 December 1938, Page 19 (Supplement)

CHRISTMAS TOKENS

THE ART OF GIVING WELL. GRACE OF SINCERITY. , How do you give—now that it is Christmas, and everyone’s mind is full of the business of giving and receiving? Do you give grudgingly, sending a card to Mrs Jones, the old wretch, because she always sends you one — or do you give as a child gives—gladly, sweetly, with your whole heart? For this is the whole of giving—not the gift, but the spirit in which the present is given. \

A little touch here, a little touch there —that is what makes some people’s gifts so delightful. A child takes pennies out of its money box, and buys its mother’ some atrocious, highlypainted ornament. But the light that shines in its eyes makes its gift precious.

A gift can be an insult. It can be given so carelessly, in such a stereotyped manner, that instead of bringing joy it causes irritation and annoyance. The selection of , presents calls for as much charm as any other social privilege. Why do some people always seem to be able to know just what their friends like? It is not by chance. It is not coincidence that Mary always gets, the book she ,loves from Joyce. It is because Joyce looks for the qualities in a book that she knows are in. Mary too. She gives wisely, with understanding. How are you giving this year? Are you going to give something you don’t want to someone who needs it, and make them feel small? Or are you going to give joyously? Are you being conventionally hypocritical, sending small presents because you have not the courage or honesty to ignore certain people? Or are you going to fee] i as a few rare people can feel, on very rare occasions, that you must give because you can’t help yourself? This, after all. is the only excuse for ever giving anything. A spontaneous desire to give from a full heart —if ycu give only three pins—will give more joy than half a kingdom.