Knight rode forth imbued with valor because of the handkerchiefs knotted to their lances. And when I was in the eighth grade I picked up a small rock that the girl in front of me carelessly dropped on the path-because I was in love with her from afar. I no longer remember her name-and she hardly knew mine, but I remember picking up the rock and treasuring it, because she dropped it. In the same way, gifts can have great value attached to them based on the heart of the giver or recipient. Sometimes people give gifts out of duty, with very little feeling conveyed in the gift, beyond a sense of obligation.
Gift giving is an opportunity to give more than a gift to someone.
If we feel a strong sense of love or affection for the recipient, then the gift can take on a special meaning. Our heart is conveyed with the gift-and our hope, in those instances, is that the recipient will recognize our heart contained within the gift. It's unfortunate that sometimes our heart is not perceived by the recipient of our gift. It's also unfortunate for the recipients of our gifts that sometimes our hearts are only obligatory, rather than enthusiastic and sincere in our gift giving. In a sense, gift giving and receiving is one of the many barometers of the heartistic atmosphere between people.