The gift is in the giving

I was raised by two incredibly generous people. My mother in particular, was always helping someone, or feeding someone or loading a guest up with her homemade preserves or fruit and veggies from the garden.

She is still like this at 84. And now if you visit you won't get asked if you want a coffee just once. There'll be many offers. All of them genuine. 

My parents understood innately that the gift is in the giving. That when we give, we celebrate our own abundance. That what we give multiplies. And that you don't need to have a lot to give a lot.

A kind word, an open heart, a listening ear, a smile. A bunch of spring flowers picked from your garden. A warm bed for a visitor. A quiet place to rest. A moment of fun. A favourite song.  A spontaneous dance. A home cooked meal and a table to sit at and share it.

These moments of giving are the moments that fill your heart and feed your soul. They are the seeds of a life well lived that blossom and fruit for all the seasons to come.