What is the definition of “Gift giving”?

As it says on merriam-webster.com that a gift is the following

1 a notable capacity, talent, or endowment

2 something voluntarily transferred by one person to another without compensation

3 the act, right, or power of giving

But what does it really mean to give a gift? This can mean so many things to so many people. From a treasured family heirloom being handed down to the next generation, to a homemade gift made from your child’s handprint, to a gift of a hug a smile. There are so many different types of gifts it’s hard to list them all. But when you have a loved one who has dementia gifts come in snippets of memories, hugs, holding of hands or for maybe a brief moment when you see the person you know behind those stares of blankness. These are gifts you thought you would only receive from your loved one. Well for the first time in over five years my mom went shopping at the nursing home and got me a gift. It was wrapped in blue with snowflakes on it. As you can see in the picture.

I went to visit my mom this weekend early in the morning this time around. It was a nice visit where I shared with her photos of what her grandkids are up to. She really enjoys looking at photos. But I could see little bits of dementia coming through like a monster hiding just ready to pounce at the first person walking by to scare.

It came time for me to leave and we made our way to the nurses station for me to pickup my gift. I asked her if she wanted me to open it now or later and she said later. So I took it home.

On my way home I thought what could it be? What did she pick out for me? Then I thought don’t think too much it’s just a gift, right?! Well yes it’s a gift, but my mom who has dementia that picked it out who hasn’t done this for a very long time gift. It could be anything and I wouldn’t care. So I got it home and looked at it for a while and wondered. So I finally opened it. It was a shirt and earrings. I thought isn’t that nice for her to think of me. Then reality set in shirt was too small and the earrings are nice, but not really my style. I know what you are thinking ungrateful person how dare you think this. Yay I thought that myself. It was the thought that matters. Then the thought of how old does she think I am in her dementia mind? But those thoughts were very brief what truly matters is she did this for me and thought of me enough to remember me…she remembered me…STILL REMEMBERED ME!!! So it doesn’t matter what she got me she remembered me.

Isn’t it amazing that a box wrapped in pretty paper could cause this much thought and thinking this time of year. I just keep thinking in the dark there is still light which is God with His help I and you can get through this adventure of dementia.

Blessings to you and yours and have a Merry Blessed Christmas.