In Giving I Connect With Others

This is heart breaking and at the same time a lesson we all humans need to learn living. Thank you for sharing the light within you.May you be blessed.

 I love this, thank you for sharing your heart and your journey xo

 What are we here for, really? It certainly isn't to accumulate vast quantities of 'stuff." And while iPads, computers and numerous other toys make our lives fun and enjoyable, they are more of a distraction rather than the true essence of our purpose. Isabel Allende, in her wisdom, has hit it right on the nail: we are here to serve one another, to give of ourselves and our gifts. Everything else is superflous. 

Thank you Isabel for your tender story of the power of love. I too gave my love and presence to my husband as he was dying. With that I have no regrets. Now, even though I am reaching out to others, I am trying to discover the new me. I feel my husband's love urging me on to live with joy in my heart. 

if you have skills, talents, or gifts, give them away. That's what gifts are for, after all. 

Being present in the final weeks of my Mom's life was such a gift.  So much was not loss.  But when she died, my whole way of being felt the loss.  One of the few things that was a constant since before I was born was now gone.  It was as tho someone had taken all the parts of my life and thrown them up in the air......and I had no idea how they were going to fall down.....what pattern they would take.  Not really scarey.........just different.  I do miss her, tho I feel her many days, especially in on walks and in autumn.   

 This has touched me greatly. It's the reverse of my life. I lost my dear mother when I was 13. It took me till I was 38 to truly grieve this loss. It hit me like a tidal wave and in doing so I rode that wave and now I work with women who experience domestic and family violence. Thank you for the learning.

 Welcome When I was born my country was in the middle of the 2nd world war struggles, and eventually lay in ruins, as was my parents' marriage. As the fourth child no welcome was prepared for me, no ams wrapping me in warmth. But I was embraced by the Ur-Mutter, nature. Plants and animals became my dear companions while I learned that I could find the cradling arms in the healing forces of nature. They became my guides and teachers and provided a most fascinating class room. When I went to the beach  the sand castles I built were swept up by the sea the next day, and I learned that even beauty and creations transform and seem to disappear, like my mother had. But every day was a new gift, and if I found a way of not becoming too attached to the physical form, but could carry the creative act of making something with the intention of beauty in my heart, it would warm me deeply, maybe more so than my confused parents would have ever been able to d... [View Full Comment]

 Welcome
When I was born my country was in the middle of the 2nd world war struggles, and eventually lay in ruins, as was my parents' marriage.
As the fourth child no welcome was prepared for me, no ams wrapping me in warmth. But I was embraced by the Ur-Mutter, nature. Plants and animals became my dear companions while I learned that I could find the cradling arms in the healing forces of nature. They became my guides and teachers and provided a most fascinating class room. When I went to the beach  the sand castles I built were swept up by the sea the next day, and I learned that even beauty and creations transform and seem to disappear, like my mother had.
But every day was a new gift, and if I found a way of not becoming too attached to the physical form, but could carry the creative act of making something with the intention of beauty in my heart, it would warm me deeply, maybe more so than my confused parents would have ever been able to do.
I built my spirit home in the roots of the trees again and again...and they were always there for me, and still are.

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I was asked yesterday to take on a serious volunteer responsibility.  I was on the fence.  Reading this reminds me that my gifts are not mine to hold but mine to share.  I will answer the call.  I will say yes. 

I too learned the greatest lessons of life from my son who was born with cerebral anoxia and lived as a 6 week old baby for 32 years, than his spirit went to heaven. I learned to be thankful for the little things like walking, talking, swatting away the fly that landed on my nose, eating, the privilege of working--things he was unable to do --but thru it all never complained, had a smile and twinkle in his eye when you talked to him or he heard the sound of music. He taught me patience--he was totally dependent on me and others to meet all of his needs. And most of all he taught me love-unconditional love--that no matter what I looked like or felt like he would smile at the sound of my voice and just wanted to be talked to or rocked--so little but yet so much. We all have so very much to be grateful for, and we all want to be loved. It costs nothing to have a grateful attitude, and nothing to tell someone you love them or care about them---give your thanks to God and pass on His ... [View Full Comment]

I too learned the greatest lessons of life from my son who was born with cerebral anoxia and lived as a 6 week old baby for 32 years, than his spirit went to heaven. I learned to be thankful for the little things like walking, talking, swatting away the fly that landed on my nose, eating, the privilege of working--things he was unable to do --but thru it all never complained, had a smile and twinkle in his eye when you talked to him or he heard the sound of music. He taught me patience--he was totally dependent on me and others to meet all of his needs. And most of all he taught me love-unconditional love--that no matter what I looked like or felt like he would smile at the sound of my voice and just wanted to be talked to or rocked--so little but yet so much. We all have so very much to be grateful for, and we all want to be loved. It costs nothing to have a grateful attitude, and nothing to tell someone you love them or care about them---give your thanks to God and pass on His love that He has showered each one of us with. Happy Thanksgiving to all of you. 

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 Love will continue on surprising us, the really big human wealth. In deed, "Love is all you need".

 thank you for what you just  "gave"  me xo feels like truth inside xo

 Beautiful message Isabel! Blessings to you for your journey and all you give. XO

Thank you, Isabel.  Your article is one of the most insightful and passionate stories of the power of gift-giving through serving others that I have encountered.  Through my own family losses, I was able to find myself and exit the heavy grief with an awakened sense of what saying 'I love you' means.  And you are so right; when I say 'I love you" to family and friends; it emotionally connects me to the world and others that soothes my soul.  You honor your daughter by honoring others who need you adoration!  Bravo, Isabel.                               Dawn Ann Farnin, MSHCE

 What love! and what devotion. Thank you for your sharing this  gift of compassion and true love. 

very  true. in giving only v receive

nice story, even i believe in giving,ihave experienced when u give u feel happy by inside

 whatever is the essence of me is at its lightest and brightest when I give of myself completely (unconditionally) and fearlessly.  My finest moments in my life are when what I give encourages courage to blossom in others.  There are times we each of us needs a "shot in the arm" to pull ourselves up from some stuck place.

what a touching message!God bless you abundantly. you left a challenge to me.

Giving and receiving are complimentary acts. By separating them we create an unnecessary hierarchy. Then giving becomes superior than taking. The giver is a noble person while the one who takes is somehow to be pitied.
there is also the question of ownership. we can only give what we truly own. Do we really own anything? All that we have is gift given to us by God in good faith, to be used for the larger good.It is more appropriate then to share what we have with all those who need it. To be a trusty rather than the owner.

What a stunning example.

that's nice..it's only by giving that we receive...none of these material things matter...we are here for each other...I really enjoy the Nipun Mehta meditations and I always shre them with my friends...lol!!

Awesome! A great thought and an opportunity to reflect on it. One has to be walking in the Spirit of God, like Isabel to show such compassion. Thank you!
Job 1:21
"And said, Naked came I out of my mother's womb, and naked shall I
return thither: the LORD gave, and the LORD hath taken away; blessed
be the name of the LORD."

Matt Chapter 10 Verse 8 Freely you have received, freely give

So true, so touching and so enlightening. You are absolutely right. Giving does connect us to people. Thanks for sharing.

it is a beautiful inspiration. thanks for sharing

how wonderful to be able to be so generous after losing your daughter like that. the world would be a better place if more people thought like this.....about giving...not getting. Brilliant.