| The first great gift is the gift of generosity - giving | | | | and it's not something you can quickly buy in a store; |
| of yourself. Especially during the holidays when we | | | | it's how you are. |
| rush around doing all the things that need to be done, | | | | The sixth huge idea is broadmindedness. This means |
| taking a little time out of our hectic schedule to | | | | that during this holy season we relax our political, |
| spend a few minutes with someone alone or less | | | | religious, and cultural differences and take in humanity |
| fortunate is a gift that will not only help another | | | | in its broadest terms, and see how all of humanity |
| immensely, but will help the giver at very deep levels. | | | | seeks happiness. For a few weeks, we reject the |
| Can you remember a time when you were all alone | | | | competitiveness and hatefulness that troubles our |
| with no one to talk to, and no one cared? It's a | | | | souls the rest of the year. We drive sensibly and |
| devastating feeling. A little attention is the generosity | | | | cautiously, allowing people caught up in the hustle and |
| that costs you nothing but some time, and will make | | | | bustle to cut in front of us and hang on our rear |
| all the difference to someone alone at this time of | | | | bumpers without anger bubbling up. We'll catch them |
| year. | | | | at the next light anyway, and who knows; they |
| The second innovative gift is virtue, which means | | | | might have a legitimate emergency. Let's be |
| decency or agreeable behavior. It doesn't take that | | | | broadminded and pretend that they are all doctors on |
| much to be decent, especially during this wonderful | | | | the way to the emergency room! |
| season, regardless of whether those we meet are of | | | | The seventh great gift is honesty and truthfulness. |
| a different color, religion, culture, or idealism. We are | | | | There is no room for deceit or lies during this special |
| all part of humanity, we all have the same wants and | | | | time of the year. All of our loved ones should be |
| needs, and being open will invite others to be open | | | | confident that we will only be truthful, and we know |
| to us as well. | | | | that when we only tell the truth, we can't help but |
| The third is not allowing negative feelings such as | | | | become responsible. And becoming responsible is a |
| greed and frustration to take over our lives at this | | | | gift we give ourselves. |
| time of the year. Wanting everything to be perfect | | | | The eighth best, inexpensive gift is resolve. We |
| puts strains on everyone, be it the clerk at the | | | | resolve ourselves to make this the best, kindest, |
| department store, our friends, or even our loved | | | | most sensitive Christmas ever. |
| ones. Calming down our wants calms down our | | | | The ninth gift that you can give a loved one is |
| frustration, and when we aren't frustrated, real love | | | | loving-kindness. Nothing says more than the ultimate |
| has a chance to bubble up. And real love is what we | | | | gift of love and compassion. Money can't touch it, |
| really want anyway! | | | | and poverty can't deny it. Whether you are poor or |
| The fourth great gift idea is understanding or | | | | wealthy this Christmas season, the true gift of a love |
| wisdom. This requires us to reflect on exactly what | | | | that you give others will be returned ten times over. |
| we are doing. Are we so busy with our own stuff | | | | And the tenth gift, a very important one these days, |
| that we can't see the real needs of others? Perhaps | | | | is peacefulness - peacefulness with all of our brothers |
| a kind touch or a smile means more than an | | | | and sisters, here and abroad. For just a little while, |
| expensive gift that is just a thing that will be quickly | | | | we forgive all our trespasses, and forgive those who |
| used up. | | | | have trespassed against us. There will be plenty of |
| The fifth is vigor and attentiveness. When we direct | | | | time to hate later. The only problem is, hatred breeds |
| our attention to others - really be attentive to | | | | more hatred, but only peace breeds love. |
| others, we discover what they need for Christmas, | | | | |