This year was a different kind of Christmas for us. We spent Christmas Eve night with my 28 year old daughter in her single bedroom apartment. Kindly she let Jana and I sleep in her new queen-sized bed, which was o-so comfy with the comforter and fluffy pillows, while she slept on the floor in the living room and her sister slept on the sofa. That definitely qualifies as a loving thing.
For the past nearly ten years we have drawn names for Christmas, pooled our combined Christmas money and each provided Christmas for the person whose name we drew, complete with Christmas stockings. Only this year our youngest daughter is headed for college in one week, as a brand-new freshman, and she really needs first-time-on-your-own stuff for college life. The solution was that, even though we each drew names again this year, each of us (except our college-bound daughter) were going to spend the money on her. She knew nothing of the arrangement.
After spending the night at our other daughter's we made it home with Jana's mother to open gifts at our home. It didn't take long before our youngest, who loves to save opening her presents to prolong the anticipation, kept urging others to open their gifts. Well, we really didn't have many so we finally let her in on the secret.
She was shocked, surprised and, frankly, a little humbled at the thought. It was just so fun for all of us to watch her open gift after needed gift. She was simultaneously gracious and excited the whole time.
We had opened our stockings at my daughter's apartment. I gave my wife the movie "Julie - Julia" which she loves and wanted. That, coupled with the Reese's mini-bite peanut butter cups and the navel orange in the toe, was all that was in Jana's stocking. I had her name this year. The rest of my budget (along with everyone else's) went to our daughter.
Jana didn't receive another present for Christmas, according to our plan. We did each receive some wonderful and thoughtful gifts from outside family members which was really fun.
Another part of our Christmas tradition was that we each need to make a homemade gift for the person whose name we drew. After all the gifts were opened and photographed and appreciated, and we had finished stuffing the garbage bag with wrapping paper I said,
"Jana, I have one more gift for you."
and I pointed to our family picture wall. One Christmas about 6 years ago I had Jana's name. My homemade gift was a bunch of group picture frames for our wall. I got the frames up and a couple photographs inserted, but due to time I never filled the picture holes. My gift this year was to fill the rest of the picture holes for the frames.
Jana, in her sweet joy was totally excited, as if that was the only gift in the world ... which it pretty much was. Her willingness to be slighted for Christmas for herself and her excitement about giving to our daughter was a loving thing on so many levels and for so many people. I am so grateful for her graciousness, her giving heart, her finding joy in the simplest of gifts, her willingness to sacrifice for her family, continually, with such grace and joy.
It truly has been a Merry Christmas!
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IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE TAKE A MOMENT TO COMMENT ON ONE OF THE LOVING THINGS, SMALL OR GRAND, THAT YOU HAVE RECEIVED FROM SOMEONE IMPORTANT TO YOU.
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Thank you for blogging Uncle Kevin! EVERY day I look forward to reading what you have written!! You are such a bright spot!
ReplyDeleteMegan, thank you for your sweet comment. It makes me feel good. I hope you and your family had a wonderful Christmas, full of things to build memories from.
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