March 29, 2024

Gifts matter

If you've been feeling a little down lately, I recommend you find a 4-year-old who is having a birthday party and watch him open his gifts (virtually if necessary).

This past weekend I got to go to my great-nephew's birthday party in Kansas. Normally his birthday falls during Balloon Days so I can't go. I'm going to accept this as a little present from COVID-19. Lord knows, it owes us at least some silver linings.

Back to the party. Gabriel loves all things superhero, as little boys often do. His collection of action figures from the Marvel movies stood on a table during the party waiting to be completed.

All afternoon brightly colored bags with tufts of tissue paper and shiny packages, some adorned with candy, continued to arrive. With each new gift, he would go to his mother and ask, "Can I open my presents?" But he had to wait.

Finally it was time. He sat in the middle of the floor waiting to be brought all of the wonderful things a brand new 4-year-old deserves. The anticipation was practically physical. He wrapped his arms around himself to try to contain it.

Wrapping paper, tissue paper and cards — and even the candy — flew as he opened present after present. Mostly Marvel action figures. The squeal when he opened a two-foot tall talking Thanos was pure joy in its most adorable little boy form. But he even got excited by the overalls that would make him look just like granddad.

Gifts matter, but not just the physical ones Gabriel received that day. He is lucky enough to have grandparents and great-grandparents and aunts (and great-aunts) and uncles and cousins in his life who love him and got to be there that day to see his joy. That's the real gift.

When he looks back on this day 10 or 20 years from now, long after talking Hulk and the Spiderman web shooter that shoots real webs (silly string) are broken and the overalls are outgrown, hopefully what he remembers is his family gathered to celebrate him.

It's a little tough right now to see those gifts sometimes. COVID-19 restrictions mean we can't see some of the people we want to see and can't go some of the places we want to go. But the gifts are there.

The sun rose this morning. It's shining in the sky right now. That's the gift of another day.

I have a warm house and plenty of food, regardless of how often I go look in the fridge or pantry and say there's nothing to eat.

I'm blessed with a job that I love to do that didn't shut down during the pandemic. And I have readers that send me notes of thanks and stop me in grocery stores to talk about something that touched them.

People who love your children are getting up every day and facing their fears and letting themselves be at risk to make sure their students get not just an education but also learn to get along and have the social interaction that is so important to their development.

I can sit here in my living room and communicate with just about anyone in the world through the advancements of technology.

I can even turn my lights on and off with just my voice. Wow, what a gift!

Books exist. You can go anywhere and experience another time just by looking at little marks in a row on a piece of paper. What would we do without that gift? — I know we could watch movies, but guess what, they started out as a bunch of marks on paper too.

There is art popping up all over town that you can go see and experience for free.

Plus you can give some gifts. Often that is just as much fun as receiving one. (Sometimes old sayings stick around because they're true.)

Read a book to a child. Have a long conversation with an older relative (even if it has to be on the phone.) Write a letter. Tell someone you like their shoes. Listen to someone who is having a hard time. Drop off some groceries to someone who can't get out to the store or make a contribution to the food pantry.

Gifts matter — both giving and receiving.

Watch for the gifts in your life. You don't necessarily have to squeal when you get one but it's OK if you do — especially if it is a talking Thanos.

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Let me know what matters to you at rsmith@crestonnews.com, 641-782-2141 ext. 6433, or c/o Creston News Advertiser, 503 W. Adams St., Creston, Iowa 50801.