[SpringheelJack]

Bad gifts create a sort of crisis, and the relationship can’t stay where it is. It must either become stronger or weaker, and ignoring the breach can only make it weaker.

Nobody wants this sort of drama at Christmas time, Tallman. If you can't accept a gift gracefully it's a greater offense than receiving a too-tight shirt from someone who loves you.

[Quix]

Honesty can be plenty graceful.

John and Paula Sandford say in THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE INNER MAN

that

Love without truth is useless [possibly even destructive] sentimentality

and

Truth without love is brutality.

I have found it so.

Paul Tournier once wrote a book on GIFTS and gift giving. A lot of complex junk can get tied up in it.

SOMEONE needs the grace and love to slice through the junk and bring some wholesome healing light into it in many lifes and families.

There’s a LOT of wasted effort and bother and annoyed to angry feelings NEEDLESSLY when some serious communication and education could bring the relationships to a whole new level of health.