Today it was a walk over the tip with Elder Son, Daughter-in-law, GrandSons1 and 3, Toby Dog, and Husband.
I helped the boys divert the course of the stream so it would create a waterfall.
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Over on the Zac's Facebook page I've been doing a weekly Advent series. Today I talked about the fact that the Jews were waiting for a specific type of saviour and that Jesus didn't fit that type. That led me into thinking about a Christmas gift I received a long time ago.
I was 19 and what I really wanted for Christmas was a car. Now this was ridiculous as my mum was a single parent and we never had much money. But my rich cousin had had a car and I was living with a ‘what if, wouldn’t it be fab, if somehow Mum managed to get me one,’ dream.
On Christmas morning Mum gave me my present. It was a sheepskin jacket. I hadn’t asked for a sheepskin jacket, I didn’t want a sheepskin jacket, and if I had I’d have wanted a pale one like my trendy cousin not the dark one my mum had bought.
But my mum was so pleased with it. She made me put it on to show everyone who came to the house. I hope I managed to convince her I loved it but I doubt it. It turned out to be the last Christmas present I ever had from her.
In the January my mum had a brain haemorrhage; she died in February. The coat took on a whole different significance after that.
Sometimes it’s only in retrospect that we realise we already have what we think we’re waiting for.
4 comments:
A very wise Christmas parable. Thank you, Liz.
That's a lovely insight, thank you, Liz. Wanting what we have is a good policy.
A hard way to learn a lesson
Thanks for sharing, Liz. How hard that must have hit you. It must be a nearly universal regret. I failed to appreciate the gift of a doll - complete with clothing made by my non-seamstress mother. It was a loving, lovely gift but the last thing I would have chosen at age 11. Fortunately, I had 45 years in which to demonstrate a more thoughtful love for my mother.
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