When I was a very young girl I grew up in a small college town where everyone knew everyone.  We always hung out with the same pack of friends and everyone ended up at our house to plan our next adventure.

One summer day my friends and I were sitting on the front lawn loudly proclaiming that there was nothing to do.  We’d already played a vigorous game of tag and none of us were interested in going for yet another bike ride around the block.  So my Mom scraped together the loose change she had saved in her “mad money” jar and with a twinkle in her eye she suggested that we all walk down to the local diner for a donut.   Well, that was a pretty big, exciting trip for us!  We immediately set out on our mission to buy a gooey, yummy donut.

As we were walking along, each one envisioning which type of donut we’d pick out from the glass case, my sister wondered aloud how long my Mom had been saving nickels and pennies in her money jar.  I scrunched up my forehead and tried to think real hard, but I couldn’t remember a time when she hadn’t been saving coins in that glass jar.  And neither of us could remember a time that she had taken money out to spend.  We all had a good long “grown-up” talk (since we were old enough to walk to the diner we just knew we were grown-up) and decided that it really wasn’t right for us to use the money that my Mom had so carefully saved.

When we arrived at the diner we confidently strode up to the diner, each took a seat, and promptly ordered a round of ice waters.  The waitress didn’t act a bit surprised and served us just like we were the most important customers in the room.  We drank our ice waters, left a dime for a tip, and started back home knowing that my Mom would be so pleased that we hadn’t spent any of her money.

We arrived back home and proudly returned all of my Mom’s loose change, minus that big ten cent tip.  We were puzzled by her expression and she gently explained that when someone gives you a gift, even if that gift requires a sacrifice, that you show your love for them by accepting.  Often times as EBQs we’re so busy taking care of others and doing everything ourselves that we don’t allow them the opportunity to give to us.  Learning to accept is the flip side of giving; one really can’t exist without the other.  So take some time to slow down and let someone have the opportunity to give back to you.  Smile, cherish the moment and learn to accept just as graciously as you give!