How Well Do You Receive Gifts?

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6 years ago

Ionce wrote a blog post about giving fountain pens as a gift, Seven ReasonsWhy Fountain Pens Make Great Gifts. I had no idea I would ever experience one the things I mentioned in the post.

Yes,I give gifts and love it. However, I am not good at receiving gifts! It becomes really difficult because of my childhood for me to accept something from another.

The events of this blog began when Ihad to make a trip to the emergency room one Sunday evening. My wife drove methere. The emergency room doctor on duty that evening was a lady.

Sheand my wife talked about knitting since my wife was knitting when the doctorcame in. After her examination of me, I no longer figured into theconversation. The two of them developed a rapport around a common interest.

Laterthe doctor returned, and my wife had stepped out. She and I began aconversation about writing. She gave me a brief description of her life, momabandoned her at four years of age, homeless at 16, Medical school graduate at38. A real “rags to riches” story.

Hang On! I'm Getting to the Point

I had only met the doctor a few minutes earlier. Thiswas my first encounter with her ever. She was telling me allabout her life. I mentioned that she should write her story because her abilityto rise above adversities could inspire others to do the same.

She thought for a second, reached into her pocket and gives me afountain pen!

Withthe gift she says, "I am a fountain pen aficionado, and I want to give youthis pen."

My Reaction

I was totally shocked, and I could tell from her body language that she thought I wouldn't accept the gift. I nearly always make people feel this way whenever they give me something.

Finally, Igrinned and shook my head. I’m sure she thought I was going to refuse. I havenever seen one so surprised when I told her:

1.I write a blog on fountain pens

2.I own bunches of fountain pens

3.I have an online store that sells fountain pens

4. I write nearly two hours daily with a fountain pen

I'mnever shocked or amazed whenever God brings people together. There are trulymany reasons why this story should never have happened.

·1. She and I are from totally opposite social strata, Hers being the upperlevel

·2. We live in two different states

·3. Had never met before

·4. Found two common threads—writing and fountain pens—that were not knownbefore

·5. Entirely different careers

·6. Considerable age difference

·7. I’m retired, and she works a zillion hours per week

·8. I am never given gifts (most likely because of my attitude towards receiving them)

Withall those odds in my favor, even though I'm in an emergency room, I should haveplayed the lottery that night!

Her Gift

Thefountain pen she gave me wasn’t an expensive one. It was an ECO TWSBI, blackwith silver ring and clip with a clear ink reservoir. The reservoir was nearlyfull of green colored ink. I wrote with it for a long time the next morning. Itworked beautifully.

I didn't change the ink for several weeks--an amazing neglect because I only buy and useblack ink.

New Friends

She and her husband have become really good friends. We meet for dinner and have the best time reconnecting each time. She has now taken a job in another state, and we don't get together as frequently.

However, I think of them almost every day when I write with the pen.

How about you? Do you receive gifts well? Does your body language tell others that you do not receive gifts. Maybe you, as I, were raised poor but proud. We were taught never to accept charity.

I'm not for sure that the idea of "no charity" looms as large today as it did many years ago!