The little girl silently sat by the Christmas tree, her arms tightly folded across her chest.  While her siblings anxiously tore off brightly colored wrapping paper, letting out shouts of glee upon seeing treasures just unwrapped, the young girl sat still amidst piles of gift boxes, waiting to be unwrapped.  As her father tried to coax her into opening her gifts, the little girl politely declined.  "Why won't you open your gifts?" her father finally asked.  The words which the little girl uttered astounded her father, "Honestly, I don't feel I'm deserving of gifts this year."  As the father pointed out all of her accomplishments that year and just how much he loved his daughter, the little girl replied, "No thank you.  These gifts are not something I can allow myself to enjoy and, therefore, I will not be opening them...send them back please."  Sounds far-fetched?  Really it's not.  The truth is that little girl could be anyone of us.  We are all children of a very abundant Universe, yet so many of us have a hard time receiving, no matter what the gift may be.  Our Angels long to share so much with us, no matter what we've done or haven't done.....they long to shower us with an abundance of gifts.  The question is, "Are you open to receiving their gifts?"  

During this time of year especially, we can visually see that gifts come in all shapes and sizes.  Sometimes we can predict what's waiting to be unwrapped, while other times we haven't a clue as to what's awaiting us.  Yet what about gifts that aren't ornately wrapped and placed under a tree?  What about all the gifts that come our way throughout the year?  There are compliments bestowed upon us, ideas that come to us as answers to prayer, the gift of a friend calling just when you needed someone to talk to, or the gift of being in the right place at the right time.  Are you a gracious receiver or do you tend to turn your gifts away? 

Let's consider some gifts:

When someone says that they like what you're wearing, how do you respond?  Do you receive the compliment graciously or do you reply, "Oh this old thing....I've had this for years and should really throw it out."  

When someone offers to help you with the dishes or some other chore, do you graciously accept or do you insist that you've got it covered and really don't need their help? 

When you've been praying for guidance and receive thoughts or ideas, do you shrug it off as mere coincidence or do you see it as valuable insight?

When someone hands you an unexpected "thank you" gift, do you smile and receive it with an open heart, or do you stammer your words in embarrassment and exclaim, "Why did you do that, this was so unnecessary....really you shouldn't have!"?

If we are not even open to receiving the gift of a compliment, imagine how many other gifts are piling up, waiting for us to receive them.  Consider how the person must feel who pays you a compliment about how great your hair looks.  Only you exclaim, "Oh, I'm having such a bad hair day, how can you even say that!"  Clearly, you did not receive their compliment.  And on top of that, the person paying the compliment now probably feels "less than" for having such bad taste in hair styles. 

Are you the type of person who gives far more than you receive?  If so, call on Archangel Haniel this season to help you to receive.  Giving and receiving should be in harmony with each other.  One should not outweigh the other.  Just like we inhale and exhale with our breath and just like the ocean ebbs and flows; so we should give and receive.  Or perhaps you've been receiving far more than you've been giving lately.  If so, call on your angels for guidance and insight on how to share more of yourself, your time, your love, your skills or your resources.   

Many times in life we can't figure out why we're not receiving what we've been asking for.  We have to show the Universe that we are open to receiving.  Ask and you shall receive.  AND YOU SHALL RECEIVE.  If we sit like that little girl with our arms folded across our chest, refusing to acknowledge or give thanks for the gifts being given to us, why would the Universe attempt to give us more.  There's a saying that goes "in giving we receive."  Yet, "in receiving we are also giving."  For by receiving, we provide others the chance to give.

So this holiday season, be mindful of the gifts that you are receiving.  Not just the gifts that are neatly wrapped and under the tree, yet also the gifts of encouraging words; offers of help; or the gift of a much needed hug.  And also be sure to give.  Do you know someone who is mourning or grieving in some way this holiday season?  So many people have had loved ones pass, have had military family members deploy or are facing unexpected health challenges.  Give freely of yourself to these people, whether you know them or not.  Give your undivided attention as they share stories and reminisce of their loved ones; be that shoulder to cry on as a mother cries for her son or daughter stationed overseas; drive someone who needs help getting around to their next doctor's appointment.  There are so many ways to give and so many ways to receive.  Whether you need practice in giving or receiving, there's no time like the present to start.  Balance giving with receiving and experience a life of harmonious flow.