ve to give presents. I get so tickled when I find that perfect something for someone that I can’t even wait for their birthday or Christmas to have them open it. I think there is a true art to being a good ‘gift-er’. You really have to immerse yourself in that person. Know what they love, their humor, their being. And when you do you will hit it out of the park every time. It’s awesome.
But this year I’m stumped.
My mother has seen 93 Yuletide seasons. As she has grown older she has liked the season less and less. I used to tell her to keep her “bah, humbug” to herself as I added more roping and ornaments to the house. I was still in that stage of hand writing Christmas cards, making disastrous ginger bread houses and baking cookies.
But over the years I too started to feel less of the joy of the season and more of the stress and materialistic undertones. I too look at the calendar and with a sigh see that Christmas is once again approaching. It’s all too much. The reason for the season long forgotten overtaken by layaway, Black Friday, Cyber Monday, car commercials and sales. Our expectations are high and when we can’t find the perfect tree, perfect family photo, perfect family we feel let down and disappointed.
Today I heard on NPR radio that when we long for something like a new computer or the latest iphone once we get it that feeling of total satisfaction and fulfillment lasts for less than a few hours.
But what will bring us long term and total fulfillment? Time spent with the people we love. Good friends and family in gratitude.
And there it was! The perfect gift for my almost 94 year old Mom!
Time
So I sprung her out of the old lady home and as I write this she is happily puttering in the kitchen. I have no other gift for her this year. She doesn’t want or need anything. For that matter neither do I.
I couldn’t be more fulfilled and more blessed and more excited about the Christmas present I have given and received….. the gift of time. Time just enjoying each other’s company and life long companionship. Time to reflect on the past, miss my Dad and life’s lessons learned.
Time; impossible to stop, hold, capture in a bottle but the most valuable of all commodities. Time with no distraction. Time to listen. Time to sing. Time to reflect. Time to love.
I hope you are able to give and receive the same gift from someone special in your life. It will be the best present ever!
“God Bless Us Everyone” - Tiny Tim
Climb On!
- Wendy
Wendy Booker
Author, Speaker, and Life Adventurer
