Gifts & Functions

I received an invitation for lunch on the occasion of House Warming celebration from a friend whom I have known for close to four decades. Hundred of times over the past half a century I have received invitations for variety of functions like Weddings, Birthdays, like on this occasion House Warmings etc. In the distant past, many of the invitations were from seniors like my parents' cousins or contemporaries who were performing functions like marriages of their children. A little later the list of most hosts were mainly my friends, contacts in my working life of my age group. In the recent past it's my contemporaries who are celebrating functions associated with their children and grandchildren.

Everyone of those invitations makes me remember what my father once told me about gifts at all such occasions. An invitee's first thought revolves around the selection of an appropriate gift - it's cost, if that will match the receiver's status, if it will match gifts from other invitees, if it will match the gifts you have received from that host on earlier occasions etc. It is important not to materialistically measure that love of the host for you. Match it with your affectionate presence and your best thoughts for the host. It is then that I realised that gifts only add a measurable value to the bond between you and the host which is actually immeasurable. It is important to remember that no gift, however valuable it is, can match the affection behind the invitation you have received. Gifts should not corrupt our affection for our hosts or invitees (if you the host) Hence I decided not to accept gifts or present gifts at any function. I am proudly practicing NO GIFTS policy for over 50 years.