Good Morning,
I hot cup of Door County Candy Cane Coffee is steaming in a cup next to me. It is time to write.
As we approach Christmas, my mind often wanders to memories from many years ago. Two of my grandparents always gave our parents money to purchase Christmas gifts for us kids. It was too hard for them to travel by train with a load of gifts. So they would send a check in the mail and our parents would shop for them. My parents followed the directions given to them by our grandparents.
Proverbs 11:25 Whoever brings blessings will be enriched and one who waters will be himself watered.
The one year I have in mind was from the 1960s. It was just my sister and I at that time. Our brother came a few years later. While visiting our grandparents at Thanksgiving, grandma and grandpa noticed that our winter coats were worn a littlie thin. For Christmas, they instructed our dad to purchase winter coats. Grandma knitted mittens and stocking caps for us. Financially things were tough at that time for my family and you just made do with what you had.
Of course as a young boy I wasn't too excited about receiving a coat, mittens, and a hat. I was picturing a fishing pole or something like that.
One day in January, while walking home from school, it was super cold outside. The wind was horrible. I only had a six block walk to home. ( Not the two miles uphill story that I heard from my dad) We will discuss that some other time.
That cold and wind did not really impact me all that much. The warm coat, hat, and mittens kept me warm all the way home. As I think about the love that went into the purchase of necessities it warms me once more in my heart.
A gift of a wanted desire is nice. But one to meet necessities is also very nice. Choose wisely as to what gift should be given. I can still see that coat in my mind and the thoughtfulness that was behind the scenes. Of course it was bought one size bigger than needed so it would last for two years.
God bless.
Marty
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