Posted by J E SOLOMON
The Christmas season had come and gone. The usual gift-giving ritual of the season and of the New Year celebration may, perhaps, continue for some time.
Generally, people offer gifts to loved ones, close relatives, friends, and others as a demonstration of their appreciation for continued good relationships or for whatever good deeds or services received during the year. For most people, it is a genuine, selfless desire to express their love and thoughtfulness. And for as long as a relationship exists and remains the cherished one it has been, such seasonal gift givers would do this year after year with a joyful heart and without any expectations for future reward or gain.
For some other people, the act of gift giving at the end of the year has become a compelling need. Left to them alone there should be no Christmas gift offerings or gift exchanges. As one colleague observes, “What’s the rational in spending over $600.00 in gifts for a whole lot of family members who, in turn, may be sending valuable gift items that usually may not be used by the next Christmas season?” And she added, “It’s been so year after year. I have several pairs of shoes and clothings I haven’t used since they were presented to me as Christmas gifts. It makes no sense to me.”
There is another group of gift givers. These are the people who are motivated by a selfish desire to give presents at this time. Most commonly are subordinate officers and employees who feel a tendency to please their bosses as well as superior officers in top management positions. Their motive for such gift giving is to ensure that they maintain favorable images in the eyes of their bosses.
Gift offerings inspired by a compulsive urge, and against one’s will, or done with some expectations for future gain or privilege naturally diminish the real importance of gift gifting and gift receiving.
Many years ago, a friend of mine who was then working at the Head Office of one of the key ministries in my home country Ghana, found himself in a similar situation where he was compelled to offer gifts to his immediate bosses. He had done it in the previous year but was very unwilling to repeat it, convinced that it was improper and no doubt an act likely to corrupt a public official. In fact, public office holders are not supposed to accept gifts of any kind. Such gifts are bribes in many ways. And bribery is illegal. He who gives bribe is as guilty as the one who receives bribe.
During that time the Head Office of this particular ministry was literally a gold mine for virtually any employee, including even messengers – ordinary office helpers. Nobody wanted to be transferred from the Head Office and workers there, like those in similar “gold-mine” establishments desperately tried to remain in the good books of management personnel who dealt with staff movements. Thus such seasonal gift giving became more of a shamelessly dishonorable practice.
Unfortunately, year after year people will always find a compelling need to offer gifts they certainly wish they would not have to give at the end of the year. If your gift offering is not inspired by a genuine desire to express appreciation but simply to impress, you are merely trying to satisfy your own ego. And if it has to be done grudgingly you better forget about it all. God loves a cheerful giver, one who gives freely, selflessly and with such joy in their heart the thought of reciprocal generosity hardly crosses their mind.