The Spirit of Giving

My grandmother, Mary Elizabeth Jeans, passed away last Sunday at the age of 89. The eulogy, delivered by my father, described how her generosity would be remembered and, in fact, has been passed on in her large family. She was a ‘giver’ all of her life and what she has given me and my 37 first cousins to pass along to our children, are the memories of a strong woman who loved life and always shared what she had with others. I described her to my daughter as ‘the original Ms. Independent’. She led a very active and social life up into her early eighties when a stroke took that independence, and her ability to speak, away.

Although we are fast approaching Christmas, the subject has barely crossed the lips of the relatives I have been visiting this week. Despite homes being decorated and cards arriving in the mail, not one person has asked me if I’ve got all my shopping done; no one has asked the children what Santa is bringing. It seems our minds are focused on ‘more important’ things. Ironically, we were actually experiencing the true spirit of Christmas as we shared good times together, reminiscing and making plans to stay in touch.

Last week, I had a similar experience when I was in Montreal to attend the annual convention of the Canadian Association of Professional Speakers. I was caught in the whirlwind of activities, sessions, presentations, and networking from the time I arrived up until the plane left the tarmac, bound for home. As I overheard strangers on the plane chatting about the holidays, I realized that it hadn’t even come up at the convention. This was remarkable because I had been in the presence of some of the most generous professionals I had ever met. The spirit of giving was ever-present, just as it was this week as we laid my grandmother to rest.

Has the true meaning of Christmas surrounded you at home, at work, at play, and at peace? You may not recognize it if you are looking in the wrong places. The spirit of giving isn’t something that you can find at a store, wrap up and put under a tree. It’s found when you open your heart and give of yourself. Let your light shine through: a kind word, a helping hand or a batch of freshly baked tea buns goes a long way toward creating a legacy of giving – one that can be celebrated all year round. Thank you, Nan Jeans, for the inspiration.