THE REAL GIFTS
It’s supposed to be a happy time of year… As long as I can remember my heart was thrilled at the prospect of Christmas, but there was another part of my heart that broke for the less fortunate.
My mom and dad reminded us to pray for the less fortunate when I was a kid. I always did, even when on a few occasions we may well have fallen into that category ourselves. It’s heartbreaking to think of kids without presents, much less without the basic necessities of life. We were blessed to not have to fall into that extreme category.
Who are the fortunate? Is it the kids who get everything on their Christmas wish list? I doubt it. In many ways those might be even less fortunate than those with little, I think it all depends on our perspective.
We’re planning to do things for the monetarily less fortunate this year. Does that mean we’re the “fortunate”? I’d say it does, not because we have jackets, but because it’s a gift to be able to give and help, especially when it’s cold outside.
As a kid I was no different than any other kid, I wanted cool stuff for Christmas. Like God’s gift and sacrifice of His son to a lost and dull world, parents give, sometimes with sacrifice to their children in tradition of this season.
Kids don’t fully comprehend it, it can take decades before they grasp with wisdom the true meaning of Christmas. We often take the gift of God’s Son for granted, just like the little ones longing to strip the wrapping paper off another gift.
It isn’t until some time later that kids can look back in hindsight to see the sacrifice of a parent or parents, in a very small way reminiscent of our Father and His perfect gift. Once grasped, we look back in wonder and awe at the perfect gift of Jesus Christ.
I think when we begin to grasp that, we also grasp the other gifts from God, those gifts that aren’t wrapped sitting under a dying or fake tree. The living gifts of our family and loved ones. The precious memories aren’t the tearing of wrapping paper off a present. The memories are the gifts of time being spent with people who dearly love us; the ones we sacrifice for.
Like a child tearing wrapping paper off of presents, we miss the best part of those gifts. We miss the smiles on the faces of the loved ones who sacrifice, directed by God to care for His little ones.
Often we take for granted God will grant them or us another year. For those of us who live with the reality of another Christmas without the smile of a loved one to share with us, also know that the real gift is life.. Here now, and in eternity later.
The thoughts of Christmas still bring mixed emotions to me. I’m thrilled for the time with family and I’m sad for the less fortunate…
There is an area about two inches under my collar bone, just above my heart that gives me slight pain, as I ponder another Christmas without my dad. It certainly helps me understand the true meaning of fortunate.
The fortunate are the ones who realize that the real gifts of Christmas are the gifts of salvation…
And the stocking stuffers I like to call family…
bill (cycleguy)
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 @ 3:13 am
You are right floyd. That is what makes it all worthwhile. I feel for those who are lonely and alone. I feel for those without family to visit or to have visit. Both my in-laws and mother are with Jesus, and my father is AWOL, so having my girls and sister-in-law makes this christmas truly one to relish. Like your analogy of the gift and the stocking stuffer. If I don’t comment or hear from you again, I pray you and your family have a terrific and “full” Christmas.
Floyd
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 @ 6:36 am
Thanks Bill. I appreciate the kind words and support. I’m praying for you and your family, along with your extended church family for a blessed Christmas as well. God bless.
Chuck Allen
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 @ 6:55 pm
Excellent point, Floyd. We often don’t realize how fortunate we are until those we love are gone. I can also be thankful that I have the means to celebrate the season with a roof over my head and a healthy family. I took those for granted for many years.
I especially love the imagery of your words when you described the tearing into gifts.
Floyd
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 @ 7:10 pm
Thanks Chuck. You’re right, I like the that. We often also forget to thank God for the basic provision and protection. We have more gifts than we even realize.
Hazel
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 @ 6:59 pm
Years gone by, we mostly received clothing that we needed and a few small surprise gifts. One special item that we had asked for was often there too. I wanted a Shirley Temple doll, but my mother said the doll was too expensive. So she took me down to Montgomery Wards and showed me a very pretty doll within her budget. Blond hair, a cute hat, Brown eyes that opened and closed and she cried mama. I loved that doll and kept her for many years. Our children spoil their kids (our grandchildren.) I think they must try to make up for their own meager Christmases when they were young. When you are on a tight budget, it is difficult to flood your kids with an abundance of large expensive gadgets. We paid cash for everything then.
When you have a “credit card,” it seems easier to spend. WOW – – where did that big credit card bill come from?
Floyd
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 @ 7:15 pm
I think the lessons you taught your kids are probably still teaching them even at their ages. It doesn’t matter how old we become as kids, we can always look back and learn as well as still learn a life lesson from our parents with the gift of a simple conversation. God has blessed your family with the discipline you and your husband have provided. I like it, and I like the story. Thanks Hazel.
Danelle
Thursday, December 22, 2011 @ 7:28 am
You ended this post so beautifully.
I haven’t finished the “stocking stuffers” but I suppose I really have.
The family is the best part. It is what is central in our lives, in our hearts. Jesus was born flesh into an earthly family. . God’s plan to show us that He takes parenting very seriously. . 400 years passed before Mary and Joseph were chosen for the task.
Praying for you Floyd. Your father sounds like he was an amazing man and left his mark on you, such blessing.
Floyd
Thursday, December 22, 2011 @ 10:12 am
Thanks Danelle. I’m thankful for the wisdom that got passed down… it just took while to pay attention. God bless your boys, husband, entire family, and you this Christmas and through out all the lives being touched by Him.
Lanny Wegleitner
Thursday, December 22, 2011 @ 11:27 am
Very well said. You were always one of the most furtunate guys I knew growing up because you had such a close relationship with your Dad. Many of my closest friends growing up did not know their Dads including myself. If you close your eyes, I bet you can still hear your Dad say “Son, what were you thinking?” He will always be by your side. Merry Christmas to you and your whole family.
Floyd
Thursday, December 22, 2011 @ 12:55 pm
Thanks Lanny. You’re right, I was very blessed, very fortunate to have my dad, and I can still hear my dad. I can’t even remember how many times he asked me that question, I’m still shocked at the patience.
Several times my dad and me talked about the time he was home from work on a Saturday due to rain and stood out in our carport drinking coffee watching you, Dale, and me playing tag on our skateboards. I can’t remember too many times my dad laughing harder than he did that day as he watched us slip and fall while we tried to ride in the rain. Man, I can’t imagine taking those kind of spills now.
Merry Christmas to you my old friend and all your expanding family. I’m blessed to have friends like you, the older I get, the more I realize it. Congratulations on being a man that treated his kids very much the way my dad treated me. There are no coincidences in life…
Nancy
Thursday, December 22, 2011 @ 12:47 pm
Well Floyd, you’ve done it again and expresses the real gifts of living as we grow up and older. These would be the revelations, on all levels, of those things which truly count. Sometimes we are slow to come into those realizations, but God is Faithful.
I never considered that my foster-parents ( I call them Mom and Dad Moon) ever did poorly by any of us. There were always lots of fun, little things for us to open. Since I practice giving as a way of life, I don’t bother making Christmas much more of a big deal with gifts than at any other time. Many of my kids say “let’s just spend the $$ on the food and getting together”.. My husband always tells the kids, “I have what I want – you”
Blessings to you Floyd….and Merry Christmas to you and your whole family!
Floyd
Thursday, December 22, 2011 @ 1:04 pm
Thanks Nancy, I’m gonna borrow your husband’s line. I love it; “I have what I want-you…” I guess that sums it up quite well. You and your family have been a blessing to me Thank you. And thank you for the Christmas greeting, it’s a wonderful present. Your time spent here brings me honor. Merry Christmas to you and all of yours as well! May God continue to bless you.
Effie-Alean Gross
Thursday, December 29, 2011 @ 9:51 am
When I was a kid, I stood with my four siblings in long lines on Christmas to receive a pair of gloves, a bag of candy, and a toy from a local charity. So, thank you, Floyd for focusing on the less fortunate this year and in years past. I guess I never even considered the sacrifice of those giving the gifts when I was a kid. The Lord has certainly blessed my life since those early days for me. He is so good…and yes, Jesus is the best gift of all. Family…another gift, for sure!
Floyd
Thursday, December 29, 2011 @ 10:13 am
Thank you Effie. God’s chosen path for you in hindsight is perfect. As I see you now, it seems quite obvious. He used all those circumstances to knit you into the person you are today. Grateful to get to share your life, it’s an honor.