Giving

120 ...
It is the season of giving. You search around for an affordably reasonable item that might perfectly brighten and bring out a smile on someone's face. You make up your mind after circling a mall.  Out of the many store-bought gift choices, you pick up ornaments.  Choosing just the perfect ones was time consuming, but you persist.  All done, you head home and delight about your purchases.  As you begin wrapping each one, you ask, "Why on earth did I get ornaments?"  Your initial delight turns into regret.  Deplorably you realize that an ornament is symbolic of frivolity; much worse, it is definitive of vanity.  Look at each piece glow and compete for shine. What value is there in glow and shine? Mesmerizing to the eye, yes, but not for long would one and all be adored.  You now lament knowing that as the season of magic, delight and joy is over, each of the fragile ornaments would go hidden somewhere and then get forgotten; it would be stashed away for many long months. Too late!  You could not return what you bought and you must find solace in the love of giving.  Besides, it is crunch time.  What’s the consolation?  Your only joy now is in knowing the simple truth of impeccable scrutiny and delicacy, patience and hard work put in by craftsmen in every ornament you chose ... an ornate offering right from their very heart!