Less than three days until Christmas and I still don’t have all my shopping done. Right now it’s down to two of the most difficult gifts I buy every year. Something for my Mom and Dad. From the discussions I have had with others, I can tell there are many in the same situation. Parents are just tough to buy for, and here is a clue why that is. They’re older.
I don’t mean that in a bad way. I just mean they are ahead of me. Most of the “toys” I can think of are in the “been-there-done-that” category for my Dad. If he needs it, and I can afford it, he probably already has it. If he doesn’t have it, it’s because he hasn’t thought of it. And if he hasn’t thought of it, I probably haven’t either, because when it comes to gadgets, we’re just too much alike.
Every year I call and ask Dad what he wants for Christmas. Sometimes he lists a piddly thing or two that us kids fight over to see who can get it first. But usually, he just says something about being glad to see us and anything will do. I’m beginning to believe him. It’s me he loves. Not the gadgets I give him.
It occurs to me that our Heavenly Father probably views things in a similar way. I suspect there is not much I could give Him that He really needs. The gifts of money, time and service I offer are only an indication of the real thing He wants: Me.
So Dad, this Christmas, you and my Heavenly Father may both get something you already have. When you open the present and pull out the gadget, you may not find it very useful. You may need to return it, stash it in the closet, or even re-gift it. But when you do, consider it a sign of something else you both already have: My love.
11 Responses to “Gifts, Gadgets, and Good Deeds”
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“You’re a fine son” as Andy Griffith said to Barney Fife when he once gave the gift of a septic tank to his parents… 🙂
Well, I never gave him a septic tank. But we did give him an electric fly swatter one year. I think it turned out to be one of the best gifts we ever gave him.
Old men who own a house are nothing but maintenance men. There is always something to fix. A Home Depot gift card sounds like a easy choice. If you were close by you could just do the fixin’ for me, the gift of self is always the best.
Dad,
Are you kidding? A gift card might as well be an admission of defeat. I still have 2 days left and I’m not giving up yet!
Give Mom hugs. Love you both,
Mark
Success! It took a while, but I found it. Had to order on line, so it will be after Christmas when it gets here, but you’re going to have fun with it when it does!
I loved that electric fly swatter… I used it on your mom and dad’s back porch when I visted there. You’re a great gift giver. And your dad loves that fly/bee zapper. When he picked it up he got a really “evil” grin on his face… 🙂
Sweet. FYI, I already bought the ‘gadget’ Mom told me he could use 🙂
Dad, are you kidding me???? Elizabeth and I were going to clean out your garage for Father’s Day one year, but Mom said it would stress you out too much!!!You might miss things and think we threw them away 🙂 I guess ‘fixing’ and ‘cleaning’ are two different things. Smiles:) Love you both!
Sis,
You beat me to it . . . THIS year.
Love
Mark,
Megan has in the past forced me to produce a receipt with the time on it to determine if I made my purchase first or if she did. She beat me that year too. Hope you found something.
Tiff
Tiff,
Very funny. I wonder how much you would have to bribe a cashier to get them to change the date on the receipt?
Mark