THE JOY OF GIVING!
I just got back from spending a rainy long weekend in glorious Forster. Having “rainy” and “glorious” in the same sentence seems odd, but these days weather is the least of things that could take my joy away!
We were so blessed to have been invited by some precious friends to stay with them at their family holiday home on the beach. Even though it was raining the whole time, it didn’t dampen our spirits.
From the moment we arrived to fresh, fluffy towels and mints on our beds, we felt so welcome…..
Stunning views from the house, even with the sun hiding……
Sharing meals together……
Delicious home-made Strawberry & Rhubarb Jam on raisin toast for breakfast……..
Relaxing with a cuppa and a magazine……
Sight-seeing………
Although you can’t see them in the photos, we actually got to see some whales and dolphins! I was so excited!
A perfect pelican:
And of course, retail therapy……
We enjoyed some good old-fashioned lamingtons from the local bakery, as there was no time for cupcake baking:
However, whilst on the lookout for what Forster had to offer in the way of cupcakes, I did come across these cute cupcake t-shirts. Not really my style though, so I didn’t actually buy one…..
All in all, it was a wonderful weekend and a source of great joy; which brings me to sharing a quote I found in a magazine I read over the weekend:
“Joy is the best makeup” Anne Lamott (Author)
I love that quote. It is so true. Just as sorrow is easily detectable on a person’s face, so too is joy. And how lovely it is to see a joyful person; it can be contagious, literally. That’s why I love hanging out with joyful people! That way, I don’t always have to wear makeup; I can wear joy instead!!
Cupcakes can be given as gifts; and gifts are usually a source of great joy!
Joy is defined as an intense and especially ecstatic or exultant happiness; to rejoice; a deep feeling or condition of contentment. It’s a very good “condition” that I don’t mind having. It goes much deeper than just being happy. It doesn’t depend on the status quo. Joy is something that resides within a person, in spite of anything else that is happening around them.
This so-called “condition” has become an enhanced reality for me since embarking on my breast cancer journey. Joy can come from the simplest things in life – sharing cupcakes with loved ones, a cuppa with a friend, an unexpected warm hug, a lover whispering sweet nothings in your ear. But to feel joy from simple things, I believe you have to choose the condition of joy. You have to wake up in the morning and recognise that you’re blessed with a new day. My faith reminds me:
“This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it” (Psalm 118:24).
When I searched for quotes about joy, there were two that stood out in their simplicity:
“Joy is not in things; it is in us” Richard Wagner (Composer)
“Joy is the feeling of grinning on the inside” Dr Melba Colgrove (Author)
Forster with my family and friends was a joy. We experienced the joy of receiving. Of course it’s joyful to receive. Who doesn’t like gifts or nice things being done for them?
We all love gifts. But the best thing about a gift is not always the gift itself. That old saying, “it’s the thought that counts”, is so true. It’s often the thought behind the gift that brings the precious commodity of joy to the receiver.
Throughout my journey, I’ve been blessed with so many beautiful cards, letters and emails. People letting me know that they are thinking of me or praying for me. These words were gifts of joy to me. Then there were “things” that I’ve received when it wasn’t even my birthday or Christmas. Things that were given just to show love and bring joy!
A mini Statue of Liberty from my darling husband, to remind me of my dream holiday destination, yet to come:
An abstract painting by one of my gorgeous nieces, which reminds me of her every time I look at it:
Tea from one of my precious sisters, when I was really sick from chemo, just because she knows I like it:
A cute cupcake key ring from a beautiful friend, who brought it back all the way from New York for me:
A book from another of my precious sisters, because she knows I love books and she discovered that I hadn’t yet read her favourite book of all time:
A colourful bunch of flowers, sent by a friend, just to brighten my day:
An ornate candle holder from Dubai, brought back for me by another of my gorgeous nieces, to shine a little more light in my world:
A cupcake recipe book, sent home with my son from a lovely mum at school, to help in my search for the perfect cupcake recipe:
More “New York” gifts – one from a special friend, the other from an adorable sister-in-law:
It is wonderful to receive gifts. But when I look at all of these “things”, it’s the people who gave them to me that I think of. It’s the love with which the gifts were given that brings me such joy. I am truly blessed!
Then I remember so many other gifts – the gifts of patience, a warm smile, an encouraging word, recognition, unconditional love and the most precious gift of all…..time. All of these have brought me such joy. They didn’t have to be bought with money to have great value. Amazingly, the value of joy can be two-fold. Not only can we experience joy when we receive something, but there can also be immense joy in giving!
Philanthropy, which is defined as the effort or inclination to increase the well-being of humankind through charitable aid or donations, could be considered the scientific name for giving. Philanthropy is an essential part of life – giving to the needy – the poor, the orphaned, the sick. Whether we donate money, volunteer our time, or bake some cupcakes for a person in need, we can all give in some way.
This month is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, with Pink Ribbon Day being Monday 25th October. The organisation behind this fundraising campaign is the National Breast Cancer Foundation which exists to fund vital research into the prevention and cure of breast cancer.
The statistics say:
– Breast cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in Australian women.
– Every day 36 Australian women are told they have breast cancer and 7 lose their lives to the disease.
– 1 in every 9 Australian women will be diagnosed with breast cancer by the age of 85.
– About 100 Australian men are diagnosed with breast cancer every year.
These statistics show that breast cancer isn’t just something that happens to someone else. It can happen to anyone – young or old, male or female, rich or poor. It happened to me.
But thanks to research, there is a bright side. Thanks to research, treatment is available. Thanks to research, there is hope for the future. Thanks to research, the prospect of finding a cure for breast cancer is ever closer. Thanks to research, there may soon be a way of preventing breast cancer once and for all.
So buy a pink ribbon this month, or better still, make some beautiful pink cupcakes and host a Pink Ribbon breakfast or afternoon tea. But do something. There’s nothing quite like the joy of giving!
