Carrie Link

GIFTS

As part of today's pilgrimage with Mary, the exercise was to make a list of ten people that have given us a gift - said something we never forgot, were there for us when we needed them, gave us a physical gift we have treasured, or reflected back to us something we were looking for. We were to write the name of the person, how old we were at the time, where we were at the time, and what the gift was. I tried to just write the first ten names that popped in my head, and had difficulty stopping at ten, but because I am a rule follower, and the rules clearly said "stop at ten," I did.

The reason we were to stop at ten was that was only half the exercise. The other half was to do the same thing but for people we have gifted.

I found both halves of the exercise very illuminating - of course nowhere on either list was something I'd actually "given" or been "given." Nothing I'd gone shopping for. Nothing I'd wrapped, shipped off, delivered with a flourish. What showed up for me most on list #1, was the way certain people throughout my life have made me feel. Namely: seen, heard, validated, special.

List #2 also revealed a list of those that have gifted me - gifted me by allowing me to share my gifts with them.


* Photo from www.deborahkingcenterpromotions.com