And the wonderful aspect of creating, especially during the holidays, is that creating is a naturally generous act.
It is the opposite of consuming or taking. Creating is about giving.
Creations are meant to be shown, heard, tasted, given and shared, rather than hidden and hoarded. Children naturally want to show off their artwork as soon as they complete it, because they understand the joy of being generous with what they create.
Children who learn to create (and adults who remember to create) possess a commodity the world is hungry for. They are able to meet needs, to give rather than just to take, to be generous producers, rather than hungry consumers.
It Is More Blessed to Give Than to Receive
We say it is “more blessed to give than to receive.” We say that, but I’m not sure we believe it, considering how much we love receiving. After all, our holiday of giving thanks very quickly is forgotten as we go on a feeding frenzy of taking.
But anyone who actually creates things knows just how blessed it really is to give!
Creating things to share with others satisfies a deep, primal human need.
Creating is perhaps the most richly satisfying, spiritual, blessed thing a person can do.
Creating really is much more blessed than consuming.
I am learning this, ever so slowly, along with my students. I am learning to stop looking at what I want to take and consume, but looking for ways I can create and give and bless others.
Try it this holiday season with me. You’ll feel blessed.
