You’ve heard the story – it’s usually told at Christmas – about the husband and wife that sell what is precious to them to buy something wonderful for their spouse. They do this out of deep love for the other. What they discover when they receive their gifts is something neither can use, but a deeper appreciation for their wealth of feeling for each other.
It’s a great story of love and appreciation; one we can all take to heart. Yesterday was my birthday. Instead of giving me flowers and presents, my husband gave me time. He got up early in the morning to take care of our daughter and he then proceeded to deep clean the house.
He vacuumed, he scrubbed and he made the house shiny and spotless. He insisted that I do what I wanted to do and not one thing more. When the house was done, he had to dash off to class for a few hours. But he’d already planned a dinner and invited several friends of ours to come over.
He prepared a wonderful grilled meal of chicken breasts, corn on the cob, baked potatoes and a delightful chocolate cake with whipped cream frosting. Our friends came, our children played and the house was filled with laughter, teasing and good fun. He’d told everyone not to bring presents, unless it was something small or something that could be shared.
My nephew brought flowers, some of our friends brought coffee, others brought cards filled with jokes and good memories. My husband gave me a fantastic gift for my birthday – he gave me time, fun and excellent memories. The sound of laughter, conversation and groans from the good food lasted well into the evening.
I’ve had lots of birthdays filled with lots of presents, special events and even nice locations – yesterday’s birthday was one of the best. It was simple, it was full and it was given in great measure out of recognition that what we really want from the people who love us is just that – a little love.