The ability to accept gifts and compliments and kindness is a talent everyone should develop. There is so much meanness and selfishness in the world that when someone wants to give something to you out of the goodness of their heart, because they love you, they're feeling good that day, or they just want to be a good person at that moment, don't cheapen their feelings and sentiments by either 1) refusing to accept, or 2) paying them.

I understand the motivation - you don't want to incur an obligation, you don't think that person should sacrifice to do something nice for you, or you're afraid that if you accept that compliment or gift, it might mean that you are someone worth giving them to. I've been there. I've done that. But how can you justify the pain you cause that other person by denying their kindness? I learned my lesson long ago from a boyfriend who taught me to accept his compliments graciously regardless of how I really felt about their truth.

I've also been on the other side, though, where my gifts, freely given and making me feel really good to be the giver, have been rejected in one way or another. Rather than making me relieved that I didn't have to give after all, all this accomplished was to make me not want to give anything again.

Just say thank you and move on, ok? It won't make you a bad person, and in addition to the joy you get in receiving, you'll be preserving the joy they get in giving. Joy all around, I think it's worth the effort.