Hijacked Christmas Presents
I chatted with my mom via FaceTime. Anticipation shone on her face.
It was Christmas Eve and she was explaining what packages she’d received from me.
“I only sent one large envelope and one white box. Where’s the white box?”
“I only have a white envelope and a manila envelope, but not a white box.”
Suddenly, I began to second guess what I’d sent. After all, I’d mailed many packages to loved ones.”
“Hold it up for me.”
I studied it and noticed the shipping label was on crooked.
“Mom, open the package, I’ve wrapped everything that is inside.”
She started to tear into it, but then said, “I don’t want to see my Christmas gift early and this isn’t wrapped.”
Suspicion faded to disappointment. “Mom, open the envelope please.”
Inside was some bogus belt holder.
“Mom, I didn’t send you that! The package I sent you was hijacked!”
Anticipation turned to disappointment.
Sadness filled my heart. “I spent so much time shopping for special gifts for you, dad and Tiff.”
She immediately started consoling me, “I’m sorry your presents didn’t make it here, but that won’t steal my joy of Christmas. We have so much to be grateful for.”
***
I decided I would shop the day after Christmas and buy new gifts. Once my family received them, we would celebrate a late Christmas and open our gifts together. I was surprised at the fact that I never really got angry. But now I see it was not where I wanted to spend my energy or risk ruining my joy.
I chose to gift myself with wonder.
I became excited about a day of shopping for new treasures. Perhaps something else was supposed to be given.
My lost, hand-picked Christmas cards for my Mom, Dad and Sister were now written on springtime note cards. I was more thoughtful about what I truly wanted to say. Sometimes, you have to lose your words to find them.
Wrapping the gifts a second go around, had more meaning and they were now wrapped with loving care. The Grinch comes out in me when I have to wrap gifts, but doing it a second time, I felt different. Things might happen to bring out the best in you.
I thought about the words of my spiritual director, Ruth, “We must always look to the Giver and not the gifts.”
May our days be filled focused on God, not just the great things He provides.
