Blessed are those who can give without remembering and take without forgetting. — Elizabeth Bibesco
I came across the above during my morning meditation and absolutely loved it. How often do we run across gifts that come with attachments and obligations. I used to do my own share of fund raising, so I’m aware of how how the game is played, but also how nice it was to run across a giver whose gift was simply that, not a part of a quid pro quo. I also admit bribing my children with a “gift” in exchange for certain behavior. I’m realistic, but also appreciate what Elizabeth is saying.
Bibesco’s corollary is equally as true. How many gifts do we receive in a lifetime, in a year, in a day? Many of those gifts come with no obligation, purely from someone’s heart and we owe it to ourselves as much as we owe the givers to remember the kindness. Some people remember kindnesses by jotting them down every day and sending thank you’s. I wish I was that disciplined, but I need to do a lot better.
I began by separating out the two truisms, but during your meditation put them back together at the end, for there is the real beauty of Bibesco’s statement. Neither is more important than the other. We complete ourselves by practicing both in harmony not as separate sheets of music.
Give without remembering, Take without forgetting.
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