The Giving Tree

Tis the season of giving. How does one measure giving? Are we all to give fruit, limb and entire trunk, as the tree did in Shel Silverstein's "The Giving Tree"? Is it measured by what we give, or what we get? My brother, Ken, and his family were visiting from Colorado over Thanksgiving. We were talking about what I "get" out of having farm animals. There's a lot of giving when a person has farm animals. Feed, daily care, and, on occasion - medicine or first aide. Do I give my entire existence, like the tree? No. Do I give because I want something out of it? or just to give? And what do I get out of my giving? Is that how it's measured? Some days, trust me, I get nothing out of having farm animals and wished they all went away. Is what I get from them, a gift to me?  The miracle of discovering a goat kid in the process of being born, is a gift, yes.  Realizing that smelly old Yuri (who can escape everything), always stands between me and Korinth when I'm in the pasture, is a gift, too. I have recently come to realize that Yuri is protecting me from Korinth - who likes to run up to and ram people from behind. (Is that why male sheep are called rams?)  I get the gift of eggs from the chickens and watching their contented scratching sounds.  Then there's the joy of watching the old toms strut. I have the gift of the look on the horses faces when I put them indoors out of the freezing rain and snow.  So, I guess Ken, these are some of the things I "get" out of having farm animals and the giving associated with them.
Webster's defines "giving" as "making a present of" something, and "gift" as the "act, right or power of giving."  There's nothing about the getting-of-something, when one is the recipient of a gift. There's nothing about the recipient of the gift determining what that "gift" may be.  Its about the giving - on the terms of the gift-giver. And, as a special bonus, a great joy in the receiving of that unexpected gift of appreciation back.  Do the animals at Sunny Silver Maple Farm realize they give us gifts, in return for their daily care? Most likely not. Do I have to give fruit, limb and entire trunk to realize a sense of joy in that giving? Absolutely not. So during this "tis the season" season, remember the giving and take delight in the unexpected joy of the receiving.