Time For A Gift

One of the best things about the Christmas Holiday Season is that you get to be with your family and create everlasting memories. But one of the worst things about Christmas… for me anyway… is that I struggle with gift giving.

It’s not that I don’t care or that I don’t want to spend the money. It’s just that I’m not very creative when it comes to gift giving, so I really stress out about it. I always agonize over what is the really cool gift this season that everyone wants, or what cool new tech device is out there, or if I buy clothes I worry about what color or what size to get and then I end up asking the sales clerk, “Can they bring it back if they don’t like it?” I mean, I’m a mess… and I’m not even a hot mess!

I wish it was easy to get a great gift for the people that you love, something that would express the real meaning of Christmas. Shouldn’t there be one special gift, that everyone wants, that doesn’t cost much, and that makes everyone happy? Something fun, interesting, unique and loaded with love. And that’s when it hit me. I remembered how I recently read in the bible how God is always with us. That He will never leave us. Which then reminded me of a poem called, Footprints in the Sand, where Jesus reminds us, “My precious child, I love you and I will never leave you.”

And both of those memories got me thinking… There is a special gift that I can give my family. One that everyone wants, that doesn’t cost much, and yet makes them happy. My time!

"And there were shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flocks by night, and lo the angel of the lord came upon them and the glory of the lord shone round about them, and they were sore afraid, and the angel said unto them, fear not, for behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David, a savior who is Christ the Lord. And suddenly there was with the angels a multitude of the heavenly hosts, praising God and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth - peace, good will toward men."

It Was Me!

Have you ever had one of those days where everything goes wrong and people seem to be always in your way? Well, I had me one of those days last week… Friday was truly a doozy.

Problem number one. I had a lot going on and the first thing I had to do was to drive out to Murrieta to see my Mom who is terminally ill. But before I could even leave the house I noticed that the “Lilac Fire” in North San Diego County had closed Highway 76 and the 15 freeway, which was the route I planned to take.

Problem number two. I decided to take Ortega Highway instead, but 15 miles in I came to screeching halt due to construction. Turns out a section of the highway was collapsing and needed repair, so the delay lasted over 20 minutes. Of course, it seems like a lot longer when you’re in a hurry.

Problem number three. I stopped at my Mom’s old apartment in Murrieta to collect her mail and pick up her cable boxes so that I could return them to the cable company (she won’t be returning to that apartment). But I forgot the keys. I figured the Manager could help, but he was out of the office. Eventually, I tracked down the Maintenance Manager who helped me out, but it took a really long time to track him down.

Problem number four. When I arrived at the Time Warner Cable office, they informed me that my Mom also had a modem that needed to be returned. I didn’t think about that and now I’ll have to make a return trip.

Problem number five. My Mom wanted me to pick up some boxes of See’s Candies, so she could give them out as gifts to people who come to visit her. After standing in a long line, I realized as I went to pay that I had left my wallet in my car. By the time I got my wallet and got back, there were 5 more people ahead of me.

Problem number six. After finally getting back to Orange County, I was running late to pick up my wife at the Nordstrom’s Rack, and of course the parking lot was totally full. After making four laps around the entire lot I finally spotted an elderly man getting into his car. Never in my life have I seen anybody move so slow! This guy took at least a full 5 minutes to back up, going super slow, two feet at a time, constantly checking his mirrors. In fact, he was so slow, and so annoying, that I was tempted to get out of my truck and go back up his car for him. But then again, he wasn’t the one in a hurry, I was.

And that got me thinking… All day long I kept finding myself annoyed at the people and problems in my way. But I realize now the problems were not caused by the people around me. It was me that chose to go Ortega. It was me that left the keys at home. It was me that forgot my wallet, and it was me that was in too big a hurry when other people were taking time to enjoy their day. Realizing “It Was Me” all along made me laugh all the way home, despite the fact that the 5 freeway was of course packed full on a Friday afternoon.

Patience is something you admire in the driver 

behind you and scorn in the one ahead.

~ Mac McCleary