#44

In 1975, I was a 14 year old trapped in the middle of 'What will I get for Christmas?" and "What can I give for Christmas?" Only I hadn't seen it to be a problem until well into the night of Christmas Eve when I cried to mama about my selfishness. Even then I was more upset that my brother and sisters would think poorly of me than of the missed opportunity to express my love for them with thoughtful gifts. I went to sleep one sad little teenager. At around 4:00 a.m., daddy came downstairs and woke me up to comfort me. Questionable, to try and comfort a teenager predawn, but that was my daddy! He told me about his grandmother who woke up early one Christmas morning to sell some cream in exchange for small treats to brighten her children's Christmas. After milking the cow in the freezing Idaho weather, she put the bucket in the back of a cart to take to town and sell. As she was crossing over the railroad tracks, the bucket tipped and the milk spilled into the snow. His grandmother quickly knelt down and scooped up the snow with her bare hands in order to save it to sell. Because of this, her fingers became frostbitten. That's all I know of the story. In my mind, she successfully finished her mission and arrived home to a roaring fire and rosy cheeked cherubs thrilled with her meaningful gifts. That wasn't the point of the story. Daddy wanted me to know it's not about the list of gifts I should worry about, it's the people on that list I should focus on. I learned a lesson that morning.

Every year as I struggle to find the most meaningful way to express my love to those on my list, I remind myself that honoring them is the best present I can give. In 1 Timothy 4: 14 it says, "Neglect not the gift that is in thee...." To that I add my own amen.

Oh, I lost a pound and had a 50 point week. Goooo me! I especially want to thank Lynsay's mom Donna for her lovely words of encouragement on my facebook wall.