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Harula’s GLADvent Calendar

day-14-gifts

December 14
Gifts

A wonderful gift may not be wrapped as you expect. (Jonathan Lockwood Huie)

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b-day-gifts-squarerGIFTS… When I stop to think of my favorite Christmas GIFT experiences over the years, one comes to mind right away.

My mom was HORRIBLE about being able to guess what was in a package. I swear the woman had x-ray vision. You just could NOT surprise her. Then one year (their 40th Christmas together) dad bought her something special. You see, when he proposed to her, he gave her a “beautiful” ring out of a box of Cracker Jacks and she thought it was real. When he gave her the real one the next day, she was so disappointed. It got to be a joke between them, but dad always felt bad and wanted to finally give her the wedding rings he knew she always wanted. But how to surprise her?

Don’t mean to brag, but I’m pretty good at surprises! I bought a box of chocolates that was sectioned off with a square divider in the middle that held four pieces. It was exactly the same size as the wedding ring box. So I wrapped the ring box in foil, stuck it in that middle place, carefully put the cellophane back on the box, wrapped it in Christmas paper and put it under the tree.

We always opened our GIFTS together on Christmas morning so Drollery and I were there for the “unwrapping.” We were quite concerned when she came to that package — unable, btw, to guess what it was — and opened it. She got mad at my dad for giving her “a damn box of candy” as if she NEEDED more sweets in the house. She took the unopened box and chucked it back under the tree. When all the presents were opened and we began to fix breakfast, I finally begged her for a piece of candy. After much coaxing she opened “the damn box” and was totally blown away to find her rings.. 😀 It was the perfect Christmas “cover up!”

As for me, if I had to pick what GIFT or kind of GIFT I love the best, I would have to say it would be something to do with words. Words have been my currency since I was in elementary school. I have BOXES of letters and cards that folks have sent to me over the years. In fact I rarely even delete emails from friends.

One of the nicest GIFTS I ever got was a very spur-of-the-moment, off-the-cuff offering. While commenting back and forth one night with Plato (from Plato’s Groove), he asked me for three words. Without particularly thinking about it, I tossed out drifting, twilight, spirit. A few minutes later he sent me this:

Drifting into the Sunrise

Drifting – Twilight – Spirit – Calensariel | Plato’s Groove.

Drifting, the current carries me
No oar, no rudder
Surrendered to the flow
Destination lies over the horizon
Rest now, adventure awaits
Twilight, time between times
Sacred space
Stillness, surrender to the muted light
Listen, Wisdom whispers
Sophia is your lover
Spirit, link between
Flesh and intellect
Feeling, sensing, knowing
Interpreting groaning’s too deep for words
Time for speech is approaching

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I can honestly say that was one of the nicest GIFTS I ever received. It was quite a trip to have someone write a poem for me!. 😀

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Picture Source:
Stocking — Harula
Gift — Home Wet Bar