You Are the Gift

Christmas for many is the holiday season,
The time when they can be with family,
Be with friends,
Party, Rest, Camp, Sleep
For the holiday season,
Is freedom,
That is why everyone is happy.

In Australia the summer sun shines as hope,
Birds, bees, butterflies and flies,
Swimming, shopping, visitors and children,
Frenetic energy building up to Christmas,
Many trying to do it all,
Lists, cards, paper and ribbons,
And as the year comes to a close,
They feel the exhaustion dripping as sweat,
As they just want to sit and relax,
To be rather than do.

For our life is very busy,
Our time is very short,
We are seldom in the present,
Yet the present is to be here,
To spend time together,
To really appreciate each other,
For in families there can be tension,
As old patterns of communication come home to roost,
Unresolved conflicts surface as bickering,
Yet it is to put that aside to see each other,
To really look at each other renewed,
For we are fortunate to have each other,
In a world of turmoil,
In a world of poverty,
Of violence,
And uncertain futures,
Why not just be grateful
For this is the real present received.

The family is the tree of life,
And yes we are seeing differently,
And that is the reality of diversity,
Just smile and say thank you for sharing,
Thank you for being you,
Mine is different for that is the beauty of my life,
We were meant to be same same but different,
For it is in the rub that we think again,
It is in sharing that we learn to give rather than receive,
It is in acceptance and love that we create a real family culture,
And there is no greater gift then belonging,
And even if you have no home,
The world then becomes your family.

So my gift to you is to imagine,
A world where there is no division,
A world where we see each other as one,
Where the truth is never questioned,
Where integrity is a given,
Where what we say we do,
What we believe we live,
And that we live to give,
And receiving is an act of giving,
For real love is the greatest gift in this world,
Yet so many are living in false fears,
And bonds that restrict,
Where pain and sorrow becomes the shape of their world,
Yet in truth it is a beautiful life,
That gives to all without expectation,
Of gentleness and innocence,
Kindness and compassion,
Peace and tranquility,
For these are the ribbons adorning your present,
And what lay inside is a fullfilled life waiting to be opened,
There is no greater gift than that.

So why not share your gifts with the world,
Without limit,
For you are the gift of life,
And I am grateful to have known you.