You don’t always know until you open the box as to whether you are going to love the gift it contains or plan to pass it on to one of your friends at the next white elephant swap. Once you open that beautifully decorated box with the red velvet ribbon and the gift it contains is revealed the suspense is over.
What is left is how you respond to the gift?
There are several avenues you take when the gift you have been given is far and away not something you will love and cherish forever.
If you are at the gift giver’s home, you can smile and secretly plot where you are going to hide the gift in their home. There is a chance they will forget they gave you the gift and when they find it they will slap themselves in the head and say, “Oh! That is where that gift was.” (I have a sister that tried this several times. It never worked. Mom always found the gift later on and remembered she had given it to her.)
You could be rude about it and ask if there is anyone else present that would like to trade with you or have this gift as a future birthday present. (This is best done behind a closed door after the gift exchange unless you want to crush the joy the giver has in giving the gift.)
You can honestly thank the giver for the wonderful electric toothbrush or sweater with glittering poinsettias and remember that if you drop it off at Goodwill by the end of the year it is a tax deduction.
There is the option of thanking the giver and only displaying the crystallized Lucite soap dish and hand towel with golden embroidered fleur de lis in your bathroom when your boyfriend comes to visit.
Each of these options has its flaws and there is a chance they could figure out what their gift wasn’t well received. If you give it away, the giver might ask to see it at a later time. If you keep it and only put in out with they are at your house, you could forget where it is. Then what do you say? It was hidden by JDaniel and he doesn’t remember where he hid it. That will only work once if you are lucky.
There is really only one sure way to receive a gift and have the giver know it is well received even if you dislike it a lot. You have to remember the heart of the giver. They may truly love what they are giving you. It is very possible they fell in love with this gift and if they loved they knew you would too. Remembering that they selected this gift out of love can really help you truly be thankful for a ceramic knife from your dad or the sleep positioning headrest from your mother.
Many teachers and mothers around the world have learned this lesson after years of practice. I hope you don’t have to do this much this year, but if you do please remember the heart of the giver. Your heartfelt thanks will be well received.
Farmers Wifey says
Excellent post and great advice..I’ll remember this if I indeed receive a dodgy gift for Xmas!!
SJ says
Wonderful sentiments – if only my friend on my post had felt that way x
magsmcc says
Wise words! From a teacher who once had a whole sideboard full of candles stands in every form imaginable! Then she told pupils (of a certain age) that wine was very acceptable….
Jen says
I tell my kids this kind of thing every year before their birthday and Christmas….when they were little they would shout..”Oh I already have this…or I hate Thomas the Train” Yikes.
Great and funny advice!
waytenmom says
Good/true reminder — I asked for a g.c. to a local store recently as my bday gift (it was my in laws – so it was okay!). I had my husband bring me the card to my birthday lunch, thinking I could shop with it afterwards — when I opened it, I know the first look on my face was disappointment b/c it was to the chain’s outlet, not the chain itself. I was instantly ashamed — the fact that they had spent $50 of their limited income was such a gift in itself. It’s easy to get greedy…..
maggy, red ted art says
That is a very lovely and thoughtful post! I have often thought “Oh dear” what do i do with this”… but it is much nicer to remember the thought and love that went into the gift
Thank you
Maggy
marisworld says
Absolutely agree with you. My last birthday I received some dreadful gifts from a very close friend. I was surprised at her lack of knowledge of me but I never said a word, although tempted at times.
Gattina says
Yes, I agree too. Usually I don’t have any troubles with receiving gifts, as I have a cat collection I get cats from everybody, lol !
RNSANE says
Of course, this is what one should do. It is so nice when you are asked, in advance, what you would like and when you are given what you hinted you’d love. That doesn’t always work, though, and I admit it is terrible to hurt the well intentioned giver.
cooperl788 says
It’s so easy to get greedy during the holiday season. This is a great post to remember at gift time.
Life in Rehab says
Well said! Not everyone has my taste (seriously, do any of you have a Buddha head collection? Didn’t think so.), so I do try to remember that the gift was chosen or made with love, and given to me with pride.
And I’m wearing that sequined poinsettia sweater right now. Thanks, Mom!
Judie says
For many years, certain family members always gave me the same sorts of things. It got to the point where I always knew what the package contained. At one point, I had so much of what they had given me that I almost told them to not give me anything. Then I realized I could donate all those gifts to someone who would be thrilled with them. So I did. Now they can give me whatever they want to, even though I know they give no thought to the gifts. I welcome them, because I can make someone else happy.
Rocky Mountain Woman says
Very sweet, timely post.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great Christmas!!
xxoo,
RMW
BEAR's Mom says
Thanks for stopping by today.
This is a great post.
I have crushed a few hearts
in my younger days
but with age comes knowledge
someone actually cared
enough to give me something.
Merry Christmas
~victoria~
Judy says
Thanks for stopping by my blog today. What a wonderful post. It is so important to realize that the giver spent time, money and energy on picking out that gift for you…whether or not you like it. When my daughter was three she was given a personalized robe for Christmas by my Godmother. My daughter announced loudly “I WILL NOT WEAR THIS ROBE…EVER!!!” You can imagine how mortified I was. I had a long talk with my daughter after Christmas that year about the exact message of your post. Ironically that robe became one of my daughter’s favorite things about a year later. Really great post.
Sue says
Remembering the heart of the giver is always good advice. In fact, remember the heart is good advice in general.
Thanks!
=)
MusingMom6 says
It’s seems to me that a person would give you something that they knew you wanted or needed or they are just going through the motions. It is true to be happy you got anything.
Tiggeriffic says
When I have received a gift that I don’t like I just act like I really like it and then I take it home.. I geocache (www.geocache.com) and I put that gift in the cache. Suprisingly it goes quickly.
For my grandchildren I give them money.. They are ALWAYS excited with that gift…I have 8 grandchildren.
Good posting today~!~! ta ta for now from Iowa
Kayte says
Such a timely reminder. And what a great way to model to our children gratitude. Even if it wasn’t what you really wanted.
Jackie says
Right on! It’s the giver that is most important isn’t it? Sometimes we love things and hate people
unfortunately. It is good advice , thanks.
Dawn says
I’ve thought about that when getting a gift for the kids’ teachers. They probably get lots of little trinkets. I’m trying to be more practical with their gifts. Thanks for sharing!
H says
When term ended last summer, I was given enough chocolates to sink a battleship 🙂
Fortunately, I can be truthful in telling the children how much I will enjoy sharing them with my friends 🙂
(and it’s funny how easy it is to find friends to share them)
Emily says
Wise words you have posted. I feel learning to accept a gift gracefully comes with age. Didn’t you always hate it when your aunt gave you clothes for Christmas??
UtahJenny says
Great message … I haven’t been able to blog much lately (or visit). So glad I had a minute for you today – thanks for sharing!
Jaime says
Great advice.. we sometimes forget it is really the thought that matters most.
Stopping by from baby mommy at the blog frog 🙂
MrsJenB says
It really is important to remember the thought (and if not thought, at least the $$$) that went into a gift. If anything I tend to go overboard in my appreciation of a dodgy gift…I need to find a balance so it’s at least believable!
paige says
That is a great message. Nice post. 🙂
ღღღ-Mumsy says
Beautiful and thoughtful post with a gentle reminder to just be happy you receive something.
Su-sieee! Mac says
Great advice and reminder, JDaniel’s Mom! I certainly hope that my shock registers as awestruck and appreciative surprise upon opening a gift that doesn’t “fit” my tastes. 🙂 Merry Christmas!
~ Noelle says
what a true thing to remember…
speaking of gifts…
i got the necklace yesterday!
LOVE IT!
Talk about a HUGE SMILE on my face
Combatbootmom says
The ceramic knife from Dad was one of my favorite all time gifts!
The Empress says
Absolutely classic. I was just trying to explain this very thing to my 3 boys today.
You LOVE the giver, not always the gift.
Perfect.
jackie says
Great post! Something to always remember!
Thanks for stopping by. Hope you have a great week!
Jenny says
This was beautiful. It really is about the heart of the giver, isn’t it?
So well written and thought provoking.
Thanks for the reminder that gracious comes on both ends of the gifting equation.
Wonderful Alphabe-Thursday link.
Thank you.
A+
mle says
You speak words of wisdom & truth! It truly is the thought that counts, isn’t it?
I tried teaching that to my children when they were young & they got so good at showing delight regardless of the gift that once one of them opened a gift with eyes aglow, a huge smile & a gasp of excitement said, “Oh! it’s just what I wanted!” then whispered to me “what is it?” haha