I enjoy the Christmas season. The lights, the music and because of my faith, I embrace the story of God showing up as a baby two thousand years ago. I also enjoy picking out gifts, trying to find something unique that says, “I was thinking of you” which usually means I go off script and get something that isn’t on any list.
I’ve been told I’m tough to buy for. I don’t know why; I love fun socks and books and coffee…that’s a great list right there.
Kathy makes sure we celebrate Christmas and early too. In fact I was away in October and when I came back home, there was a Christmas tree in our living room. Did I mention it was October? Now we have three trees in our home and seven in our cafe; maybe more, I’m not sure.
Being married to Kathy makes it easy to enjoy the Christmas season.
Except for one year. 1997. Twenty-two years ago; it still stands out to me.
1997 was tough. My dad passed away on November 27 that year and from that point on, celebrating anything was going to be a challenge. I tried, I really did. I was trying to be strong for my mom and my family but man it was hard.
I even sang at our church Christmas banquet, “I’ll Be Home for Christmas…” but I was going through the motions as I was overwhelmed with emotions.
Then Christmas morning arrived and again I was trying to be present with my family, but I really wasn’t. Kathy was understanding and the kids were too young to know what was really going on.
I was so glad when we finally got to the end of the gifts. I was miserable. I couldn’t muster an ounce of gratitude for what I had received only frustration and annoyance…because I “hated every gift”. What’s worse I told Kathy this. She even bought me some kind of tech gadget like a palm pilot or something like it thinking I would love it. In 1997 that was pretty cool. But I hated it.
I was so upset I made her take them all back. I didn’t want any gifts. I didn’t ask for any and I didn’t want to keep the ones I got.
Kathy handled it fairly well, but it was a little tense in our home for a while after that. Today we can laugh it off, like, “Hey do you remember back in ’97 when you bought me all those lame gifts? And then I made you take them all back?”
Fun times. Great memories.
Yeah, 1997 was a tough year.
Thankfully we’ve learned to embrace the season again and I do enjoy it.
Perhaps you’ve had some tough Christmases or you have someone who is just tough to buy for, like apparently I am.
Maybe I can help.
I wrote a parenting book called, “Unplanned Parenthood” and I wrote it to share the principles and strategies that guided us as we raised our now adult children. I wrote it for parents with the hope that they would be encouraged as they take on the wonderful, overwhelming responsibility of raising children. if you’re a parent or know of parents who might benefit from it you can check it out here.
Sure some may hate it, much like I hated my gifts back in ’97, or it will be a great help to parents. I’m trusting the latter not the former.
Regardless, I trust you enjoy this Christmas season.
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