Daily Meditation for January 2, 2026

Giving and receiving are two sides of the same coin. One neighbor carries a bag filled with apples freshly picked over to the neighbors’ homes as a gesture of good will. Her way home is laden with cucumbers, tomatoes, flowers and zucchini — unexpected gifts in return for the apples. Grocery aisles are wonderful places to give and receive greetings and encouraging words. Mothers with children in grocery carts value kind words; a conversation, perhaps, if the little ones are settling. The support we give to one another simply by recognizing and relating to common experiences is appreciated, when respectfully shared. Sometimes when we give, we do not see something tangible in return; however, a feeling of wellbeing often permeates our inner self. Donating winter clothing to a homeless shelter or shoveling an elder’s sidewalk without being asked: these are examples of giving and receiving that can be easily experienced.

By Dianne Schlichting, OblSB