"You give but little when you give of your
possessions,
It is when you give of yourself that you truly give"

-- Kahlil Gibran



Years ago, I had a friend -- I'll call her "Paula" -- who introduced me to a whole new holiday tradition.

The empty gift box.

When I met her, Paula's family was stretched and stressed to the breaking point. After many years of stability, joy and financial security, Paula's family had hit some unexpected hard times. One of her loved ones was desperately ill and without health insurance, others had lost their jobs. The year previous, Paula, her busband and kids all agreed to buy one another Christmas presents costing no more than $5 apiece at the local drugstore. Now money was so tight that wasn't even a remote possibility --and Christmas was right around the corner.

So Paula and her family settled on the empty box.

They took a cardboard gift box and wrapped it elegantly in beautiful holiday wrap complete with a bow. The box and its lid were wrapped separately so the box could easily be opened and closed again.

It may seem strange to be concerned about being able to open and close an empty box. But for Paula and her family, it was vital because this is what they did . . .

At their Christmas table, members of Paula's family took turns giving their gifts to one another. Each person at the table would present the box and their wish for what could be inside it to each one of their other family members.

What impressed Paula most was that few at the table gave "things." Instead, as they passed the weightless box from one to another, most wished their loved ones all kinds of intangible joys --the strength to regain health, more time to pursue a painting hobby, joy in a new relationship, help in finding a job or simply the blessings of the season. Paula said that her "empty box" Christmas was one of the most meaningful she ever had.

This season maybe all of us all of us can consider sharing an "empty" box with one another. And instead of things, we can fill it up with our best wishes and heartfelt desires for those around us.

I lost touch with Paula years ago -- but the last I heard her family was on the mend. I think of her often this time of year and thank her for the lesson of the "empty box" -- a bit of wisdom certainly worth "regifting."

Blessings,

Lindsay