What’s In Yours?
When I think of the word box, the first thing that comes to mind is a cardboard enclosure used for holding “things.” I have a number of boxes in my home office that hold pictures from the past, paperwork, etc. There is another type of box that everyone has on the inside: a box of gifts called a blessings box. Just like time, the gift of a blessing is priceless as it is someone giving a part of themselves to you.
I had coffee with Jamie earlier in the week, and this very subject came up. In the context of the conversation, she was talking about me and someone wanting to give me a gift/blessing of helping me with an upcoming situation. Jamie is very visual and actually simulated holding the blessings box in front of her heart and opening it to both give and receive the gifts of blessings. In fact she actually said: “remember the box?” That little visualization quickly brought me back to one of the things she taught me early on in this journey. A gift is someone’s way of offering you a blessing. It does not matter if it is a tangible item, an offer to help, a compliment, a hug and kiss, or just a smile. They are all gifts/blessings being given to you. There is only one way to respond to a gift of the heart: thank you.
I recall one night last year outside of the Continental Club. A man walked up to me and asked me for some money for food. I had people waiting in the cab for me, but I stopped to talk to him. Nora knew what was going on. She knew that if I had stopped to talk to someone, it was important. I’ve been around enough people to know when someone is panhandling for money for smokes or beer and when they are not. I asked him what his name was and to tell me a little about himself. I could tell he was taken aback as I was engaging him in a conversation and looking him in the eyes rather than assuming he was a bum and just brushing him off. He told me his story about losing his job, being from Louisiana and how he had come to live on the streets. I gave him $20. He started crying. He said: “no one ever talks to me anymore…they just look right through me like I don’t exist…thank you for acknowledging me.” He hugged me, and I smiled at him and said “you’re welcome.” I gave him a blessing of letting him know he is still a human being no matter his situation, and he gave me the blessing of a smile and hug. That’s how the gift of blessings works. Blessings change lives.
Sure, there are times where people give gifts with ulterior motives or strings. Those are not gifts of the heart from the box of blessings. I believe you can feel it when it is not genuine. When a man is in the dog house and trying to crawl out with flowers and jewelry, that is indeed not a gift of the heart, but when he shows up at the house with flowers and a smile for no particular reason, that is indeed a blessing. Kissing your significant other on the head as you leave for work and saying “I’m glad you’re in my life” is a gift from the box of blessings. A phone call or quick text message to just say hi is a gift of the heart.
So “what’s in yours” is the question of the day. Is your box of blessings all nice and shiny and easily opened and closed, or is it a little dinged up and needs the hinges oiled a little? I’ve learned that as you give more blessings from your blessings box, you learn how to receive the blessings given by others. Give someone a blessing right now as you are reading this TOD and watch them light up. Give that blessings box a good workout and watch the world around you change.
Everyone reading this is a blessing in my life. Thank you for being a part of me.
When I think of the word box, the first thing that comes to mind is a cardboard enclosure used for holding “things.” I have a number of boxes in my home office that hold pictures from the past, paperwork, etc. There is another type of box that everyone has on the inside: a box of gifts called a blessings box. Just like time, the gift of a blessing is priceless as it is someone giving a part of themselves to you.
I had coffee with Jamie earlier in the week, and this very subject came up. In the context of the conversation, she was talking about me and someone wanting to give me a gift/blessing of helping me with an upcoming situation. Jamie is very visual and actually simulated holding the blessings box in front of her heart and opening it to both give and receive the gifts of blessings. In fact she actually said: “remember the box?” That little visualization quickly brought me back to one of the things she taught me early on in this journey. A gift is someone’s way of offering you a blessing. It does not matter if it is a tangible item, an offer to help, a compliment, a hug and kiss, or just a smile. They are all gifts/blessings being given to you. There is only one way to respond to a gift of the heart: thank you.
I recall one night last year outside of the Continental Club. A man walked up to me and asked me for some money for food. I had people waiting in the cab for me, but I stopped to talk to him. Nora knew what was going on. She knew that if I had stopped to talk to someone, it was important. I’ve been around enough people to know when someone is panhandling for money for smokes or beer and when they are not. I asked him what his name was and to tell me a little about himself. I could tell he was taken aback as I was engaging him in a conversation and looking him in the eyes rather than assuming he was a bum and just brushing him off. He told me his story about losing his job, being from Louisiana and how he had come to live on the streets. I gave him $20. He started crying. He said: “no one ever talks to me anymore…they just look right through me like I don’t exist…thank you for acknowledging me.” He hugged me, and I smiled at him and said “you’re welcome.” I gave him a blessing of letting him know he is still a human being no matter his situation, and he gave me the blessing of a smile and hug. That’s how the gift of blessings works. Blessings change lives.
Sure, there are times where people give gifts with ulterior motives or strings. Those are not gifts of the heart from the box of blessings. I believe you can feel it when it is not genuine. When a man is in the dog house and trying to crawl out with flowers and jewelry, that is indeed not a gift of the heart, but when he shows up at the house with flowers and a smile for no particular reason, that is indeed a blessing. Kissing your significant other on the head as you leave for work and saying “I’m glad you’re in my life” is a gift from the box of blessings. A phone call or quick text message to just say hi is a gift of the heart.
So “what’s in yours” is the question of the day. Is your box of blessings all nice and shiny and easily opened and closed, or is it a little dinged up and needs the hinges oiled a little? I’ve learned that as you give more blessings from your blessings box, you learn how to receive the blessings given by others. Give someone a blessing right now as you are reading this TOD and watch them light up. Give that blessings box a good workout and watch the world around you change.
Everyone reading this is a blessing in my life. Thank you for being a part of me.
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