I stayed at a friend’s place one weekend. I had such a wonderful time with him and my friends. We saw all the neat and happening spots in his city. We relaxed and let our hair down. It was a beautiful time in every sense of the word.

My Friend Is Generous, Always Giving…

Every time we would go out and have dinner, he would always insist to pay. No matter what I said or did, he always ended up paying. He loved doing it for me and my friends. It was his way of showing love to his friends. It made him feel great.

This Time, I Bought Him A Gift Certificate and Hid It…

Because I knew he would treat me and my friends with so much respect and take care of any need, no matter how small, I wanted to do something for him. I wanted to give him a gift with all my heart and from a place of love.

The last day of my trip, I handed him my present. I knew he would resist. I insisted more and tried to convince him. But he still didn’t take it. So I had to take it back.

Receive Graciously Because Giving and Receiving Are Linked

I took it in the right spirit because I knew he came from a good place. But I have to confess that I was slightly taken back that he didn’t accept the gift. I didn’t feel satisfied or content. There was a missing feeling.

And then it hit me. He didn’t give me the pleasure of giving him a gift.

I learned something valuable. Giving and receiving are a part of the same cycle. When you give, you want the recipient to receive graciously so you can have the pleasure and satisfaction of giving.

I learned that the next time I receive a gift, I will accept it with all my heart and love, so I can give the same feeling of fulfillment to the person who gives it to me.

What is your biggest takeaway from this post? Please share with me in the comments!