We disappointed Michael! But received a blessing...

My grandson, Michael

I usually wait until the last few shopping days to start looking for Christmas presents.  This year was an exception.  With two grandchildren who have every imaginable toy, I wanted to get one gift for each of them that would be special - something they really, really wanted.


For Emily it was a motorized Barbie Glitterizer - I still don't know what it is or does!  For Michael it was the Zip Zoom Logging Adventure for his Thomas the Train collection.

Michael had told me on numerous occasions that this was a gift he really, really wanted.  I knew that other family members were getting train cars to complete his set.  I also knew that Michael's daddy, my oldest son, Ross, enjoyed the train collection almost as much as Michael. 

Ross and Jennie will be moving in the near future, so I thought a gift card to Menard's was more appropriate for Ross than a piece of the Thomas train set.  I may have made a mistake...

We opened gifts, we passed the gifts around for everyone to see, we took pictures and we had a good time.  The last two presents under the tree were for Michael and Emily.  They had already opened several smaller gifts from us, gifts from their doting Uncle Tyler and gifts from their aunts Allyson and Kayleigh. 

All cameras were poised on Emily as she opened her Glitterizer.  She was thrilled and the girls helped her set it up right away.

Michael's turn didn't play out at all like we had thought it would.  Again, all cameras were poised on him.  We couldn't wait to see his reaction.  Everyone had stopped what they were doing to capture the image, either with their cameras or with their minds.  And what we all got was an indelible image of disappointment.

Michael was not happy.  He liked the Zip Zoom Logging Adventure, that was not the problem.  The problem was that he had wanted HIS FATHER to receive it!  He was distressed, distraught even.  Grandpa and I were amused, but hid our smiles.  Mommy and Daddy were a little embarrassed by his reaction.  Emily came to save the day.  "You can share it!  You and Daddy can share, Michael!"

I know that years from now, this will be one of our favorite Christmas stories to repeat as we prepare to open gifts.  At a time when we talk about how everyone is thinking, "Me-Me-Me" this little guy is thinking about his daddy.  Isn't that precious?  The biggest gift under the tree this year was for Michael, and he didn't want it for himself, he wanted it for his father.  What a blessing!

As you begin 2011, I hope that you will think not of what the year holds for you, but of what opportunities you have to be a blessing to your Heavenly Father.