Have you ever been asked or thought about what the greatest gift you’ve ever received is?
What would you say?
I bet there is a great story to go along with whatever you think is the greatest gift you’ve ever received.
I would like to share a story about a great gift I received and also talk about using the gifts God has given us to help others.
I hope some of you can relate to this.
Here’s my story.
Today is my birthday. My oldest daughter just sent me a text…”Happy Birthday Oldie! 😁😁😁😁😁”.
We’re always joking around and laughing when we’re together.
I’m 55 today. That seems old to me too but I know it isn’t really. I’ve always been young at heart. Most people think I’m in my mid 40’s which is a blessing.
I blame it on my always positive attitude and that I laugh and smile a lot. I have a constant perma grin. You can’t be an encourager if you’re always negative and complaining. That’s just not me!
Since it’s my birthday I’d like to share a story about a great gift I received. One that I am forever grateful for.
My dad is suffering from Alzheimer’s and dementia. He’s had it for awhile but this year he’s taken a turn for the worse. We don’t know how much time he has left but it’s probably not much longer.
He’s a great dad. It wasn’t easy for him. He married my mom when I was in the third grade and took on the tough job of raising three small children.
(I’m the punk in the yellow sweatshirt)
Their wedding day. 😊
I never knew my biological father and have no memory or recollection of him at all. Out of sight out of mind. My mom never mentioned him and I never asked.
My dad became the first father figure I knew and I see him as a gift from God. I needed a father at that time to teach me discipline and put me on a good path. He came into my life at just the right time. The place in Phoenix we lived wasn’t a great place and as a child I was on a path to becoming a criminal.
He rescued me out of that and put our whole family on a new path. We moved far away from Phoenix and into a great little neighborhood of houses surrounded by a beautiful desert. It was such a great place to grow up. I loved it!
My dad had adopted us as his own and done his best to raise us. Learning as you go, like most parents. He taught me a hard work ethic and modeled being a father to me.
Two summers ago I decided to take a road trip up to Washington state where my family had moved to when I was in the seventh grade. I live in Texas and I had saved some vacation time and took a whole month off. I decided to drive so I could see some sights on the way back, like the many road-trips we went on as kids during the summer.
It was going to be great to see all my family including my own kids and grandkids along with friends. But the main reason I had for going was my dad. His memory was slipping and I needed time with him before he lost it all. I didn’t know it at the time but this would be the last chance I would get to spend time with him still knowing who I was.
It was a great visit. It was such a gift.
There were two things that I really treasure about that visit.
One is going on walks with my dad. He used to be a jogger. He’s been one my whole life. He used to run 10k’s and even did a marathon once but looked like he was dead afterwards so he kept it to 10k’s after that. A man’s got to know his own limitations.
But that was before he had hip replacement surgery. Now he could no longer run so he would walk instead and was always in good physical shape. The problem is that at this time he needed a cane and my mom who is disabled couldn’t walk with him and was afraid if he fell he wouldn’t be able to get up because he was so frail. So he hadn’t even gone on any walks in maybe a year. But with me there, I could go with him.
To see his face light up when I told him I would walk with him was a precious sight. He couldn’t walk every day. Only every other day because he was too weak but it was the highlight of his day. He looked forward to it and so did I.
We would get ready to walk and his competitive spirit that he passed on to me kicked in. He looked at his watch that had a timer on it and at the end of the driveway he hit the timer and we were off. He kept a fast pace for a frail man with a cane. There was a hill that was a little long but he pushed through it, enjoying every minute.
I got to meet many of the neighbors who would see him and come out to say Hi and cheer him on cause they hadn’t seen him in a long time. It was like he was running a race again and I got to run with him.
The race of life my friends. It’s a gift.
We got to walk and talk every other day I was there. Remembering old times and funny memories. My dad’s laugh is one of my favorite things. It’s always genuine and contagious and puts the biggest smile on his face. These walks were a great gift.
The other thing that was great about the trip is that in the late afternoon we would sit in the garage having an ice cream sandwich and talking about great memories from the past. My mom would bring something up and when my dad would remember he’d get a smile and start to chuckle. I have video clips of some of these conversations I secretly recorded.
God was telling me that these moments were precious and I was beginning to get a sense that this would be the last time I would have this time with him.
“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.”
James 1:17 NIV
God knows exactly what you need. I needed a father who then became a great dad. I think you all may know the difference. The dad part is the fun part while the father part is more difficult.
We need both. At least I did.
I was inspired to write about gifts because two things happened to me on the same day.
Both involved gifting.
One involved a customer of mine. She owns a restaurant and almost every day I delivered her mail she would ask me if I wanted a coke or a snack. I would always politely refuse and tell her I appreciated the offer.
But did I?
It is very difficult for me to ask for help or accept gifts. The struggle is real. I can feel like a failure sometimes and I don’t like taking advantage of people.
As I walked into her restaurant and handed her the mail she didn’t say anything. She just smiled and pushed a bag of popcorn into my hands and only smiled. All I could do was thank her and smile. It was very kind. That’s all she was trying to do is be kind and I’d been denying her that opportunity for so long.
The second thing that happened that day was my ex wife called me. Hadn’t heard from her in a long time. We aren’t antagonistic, we just don’t have a relationship anymore. Two separate lives. It was good to hear her voice. She called to let me know our youngest daughter was behind in her rent and needed help. That surprised me cause a few days earlier chatting with her she didn’t mention it. Her mom told me that she’s just like me, independent and won’t ask for help.
I deposited the money into her account and sent her a text. I said her mom told me she needed help and to forgive her for reaching out to me cause she loves her. I told her I love her too and would give my right arm for her in a heartbeat but by not telling me that she needed help she was denying me the opportunity to be a dad. To get joy from helping her.
See the lesson? I’m teaching my youngest daughter a lesson in stealing someone’s joy by not accepting their gift just as I had been doing forever to my customer.
Here’s the thing. God gives great gifts!
He gave me a great dad and a great few weeks with him before his memory was gone. Two great gifts I’m very grateful for.
Here’s where I hope to encourage you.
I was once considered a gifted student in school. I was on the bottom rung of the ladder as far as gifted students but we are all gifted my friends.
“We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your faith; if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully.”
Romans 12:6-8 NIV
God has given us each gifts. We are all gifted.
Encouraging is my gift. What’s yours?
Are you using your gift? Whatever it is? Give it away!
I encourage everyone I can out of a thankful heart. And now, I’m trying to not steal the joy from others trying to use their gifts too. It’s a good lesson.
Father’s Day is coming.
I wanted to honor my dad for the love he has given me and thank my Heavenly Father for the many gifts He has blessed me with.
Be encouraged friends!
Blessings
I was reading this and yelling at you Joe: "dont do it again, dont make me cry again."
To write and elicit that kind of emotional response means you are hitting your marks. I love it!
Beautiful story Joe❤️ thank You. Happy birthday 🎂 🥳 have a Great day and God bless 🙏 🙌✌️