Presents

I want to tell you about a couple of presents I got as a kid. My birthday falls close to a major holiday. Ok, I guess it’s important to know that the holiday is Christmas. In fact, both my sister and I both have December birthdays.

The one question I get asked, a lot, when people find out my birthday is how did that work out for me. My mom was very careful to clearly distinguish between my birthday and the next day. I always had separate presents, a separate cake, etc. Other family would give me a “combined” present (and one of the present stories goes into that) but that was okay because I knew my mom and dad distinguished between the two celebrations.

About the only thing I feel like I missed out on was birthday parties. In fact, I think I’ve only had 2 birthday parties (beyond family) in my life. One was a week or two before I turned 12 (it was hard enough to get enough kids to have their parents be able to bring them to a party a week or two before Christmas with all the holiday activities), and one was organized by my wife when I turned 50.

Okay, the introvert inside of me is horrified that someone might read this and think it’s a great idea to organize a birthday party for me this year while the inner me is secretly hoping so, done does. My neurosis…

Anyway, back to the presents, one birthday year when I was about 8, my aunt and uncle got me a “combined” present, a mechanical slot machine. This was the early 70s so it was quite advanced at the time and I’m sure more than they planned to spent on nieces and nephews. Anyway, at the time I got it, all I could focus on was that it was a “combined” present. It took me a while to get over the single present disappointment and really enjoy the slot machine. It was a lot of fun and, if I remember right, I wore it out because I played with it so much.

Before I go on with the next present, I have to tell you a little more about my parents Christmas tradition. My mom would accept gift suggestions of up to a certain dollar amount (young people today will never understand the excitement of pouring through the Sears Christmas catalog). They would pick one or two items from our list in addition to things that they bought outside that list.

So, the same year as the slot machine, one of the Christmas presents I got from my parents was a cardboard western town setup. You had to put tab A into slot B type build of it before you could even play with it. I remember getting it, feigning some excitement, and going on to the next present. It must have been a month later that I finally got around to the putting together the cardboard town. I can honestly say that I had more fun building the playtown than I had playing with it afterwards. I think I even said something to my mom and I remember her response was “see, I knew you’d like it”. I remember feeling a little guilty because I knew my less than enthusiastic response when I opened it was not hidden like I thought it was.

Anyway, two different presents, one year, both made me realize that even at the almost grown age of 8, I wasn’t able to fully understand and appreciate what others were doing for me. As a mumble, mumble, mumble, 60 year old, I’m still amazed that God knows more what is good for me than I do.

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” - Jeremiah 29:11 ESV

“O Lord, you are my God; I will exalt you; I will praise your name, for you have done wonderful things, plans formed of old, faithful and sure.” - Isaiah 25:1 ES