Your presence is a present

Focus on appreciating others, spreading love

By Laurie DeBruin CCH,CRR

I often say to my husband and children that every day is like a holiday for me. I get to have the best presents that God could possibly have given me every day! I also might tease and say, sometimes I may not know what I am opening for that day, but it is a surprise none the less! Their presence in my life IS a present. Your presence in other lives is a present.

We are all gifts, and we must remember that others love us just as we love them. During this time of year, we carefully pick out gifts from stores, this year more online shopping than ever, sometimes baking and crafting gifts. The gifts are meaningful and often symbolic that show our love to our family and friends.

We want them to feel our love. We all have heard people say, when receiving the gift, “Oh you shouldn’t have”, or “I didn’t get anything for you”. We immediately tell them that wasn’t why we gave it to them; we weren’t looking for an exchange, etc. We just wanted to show our love and appreciation through a present.

Your presence is a present. Sadly, in these non-gathering quarantined times, we will have less holiday parties. Making your presence known in your loved one’s lives is vital.

Make that phone call, write that letter, mail that gift, drop the baked goods off at the door. Check in with the people that you love. Tell them that their presence in your life is the perfect gift that lasts forever.

When you do receive a gift from someone, work hard on not rejecting it. Understand that by saying “you shouldn’t have” or other reasons why you should not accept it is a form of rejection of their love. Generally, people are not looking for things in return. The guilt and strings sometimes are only applied by yourself.

Look at the present and remember that they are saying that your presence in their lives is important. You accepting that gratitude is just as loving as the gesture of giving it.

Focus on love this year; every year of course, but especially this year. Take the time to make the loving gesture of appreciation. That text message can go a long way. Let them know that their presence is everlasting in love and appreciation.

Laurie DeBruin CCH,CRR is the owner of Chrysalis Reflexology Hypnosis & Enrichment Center. Reach her at (517) 648.1980.