The Blue Slippers
During the primary grades, children will make their mothers and fathers hand made gifts in school to celebrate Christmas, Easter or Mother’s Day. These humble yet sincere offerings are usually designed more to help the child develop artistic skills and to teach them “It is better to give”. One year our eldest daugher, then 7, decided she wanted to purchase a real present for me. So with some pocket money she had earned or gleaned from her Dad, she went off to the store to make her purchase.
The options were endless and her primary thought and concern was “What would Mom really like?” “What would be special for Mom?” It took time to find the right treasure but assured that these beautiful fuzzy blue slippers would be just right, she brought them home. She found some special shiny Christmas paper worthy of her purchase and afterward placed them ever so conspicuously under the tree.
She could hardly wait for Christmas to arrive and see her mother’s delight. Finally the blessed day came. Though she could see all kinds of interesting presents under the tree, her primary concern that year was to give this purchased and special gift to Mom. She impatiently waited as mom fussed over the wrapping and then opened the gift. Boy was she going to be surprised and happy to wear those slippers.
But wait, Mom just looked at them sitting in the box, said a quick thank you and then encouraged everyone to open their gifts. Sadly and very disappointed, she turned away. Was this the beginning of other turnings away? To further add to her disappointment, Mom returned the slippers to the store that Boxing Day. How could Mom not like that gift that she had chosen so carefully?
What this precious daughter didn’t know was Mom needed so many other things at that time or felt she needed at that time in her life. A pair of blue fuzzy slippers seemed like an extravagance when bills needed paying. What Mom didn’t know at that time were the dashed hopes and dreams of a little girl’s heart.
Accepting a gift that doesn't fit, that doesn't suit our personality, that seems frivilous and completely impractical becomes part of a maturing character. Can we step outside outside ourselves and look to the giver and receive it fully and completely?
I think of this lesson frequently and then consider too the "blue slippers" that are offered to me and to everyone else as part God's grace.
During the primary grades, children will make their mothers and fathers hand made gifts in school to celebrate Christmas, Easter or Mother’s Day. These humble yet sincere offerings are usually designed more to help the child develop artistic skills and to teach them “It is better to give”. One year our eldest daugher, then 7, decided she wanted to purchase a real present for me. So with some pocket money she had earned or gleaned from her Dad, she went off to the store to make her purchase.
The options were endless and her primary thought and concern was “What would Mom really like?” “What would be special for Mom?” It took time to find the right treasure but assured that these beautiful fuzzy blue slippers would be just right, she brought them home. She found some special shiny Christmas paper worthy of her purchase and afterward placed them ever so conspicuously under the tree.
She could hardly wait for Christmas to arrive and see her mother’s delight. Finally the blessed day came. Though she could see all kinds of interesting presents under the tree, her primary concern that year was to give this purchased and special gift to Mom. She impatiently waited as mom fussed over the wrapping and then opened the gift. Boy was she going to be surprised and happy to wear those slippers.
But wait, Mom just looked at them sitting in the box, said a quick thank you and then encouraged everyone to open their gifts. Sadly and very disappointed, she turned away. Was this the beginning of other turnings away? To further add to her disappointment, Mom returned the slippers to the store that Boxing Day. How could Mom not like that gift that she had chosen so carefully?
What this precious daughter didn’t know was Mom needed so many other things at that time or felt she needed at that time in her life. A pair of blue fuzzy slippers seemed like an extravagance when bills needed paying. What Mom didn’t know at that time were the dashed hopes and dreams of a little girl’s heart.
Accepting a gift that doesn't fit, that doesn't suit our personality, that seems frivilous and completely impractical becomes part of a maturing character. Can we step outside outside ourselves and look to the giver and receive it fully and completely?
I think of this lesson frequently and then consider too the "blue slippers" that are offered to me and to everyone else as part God's grace.
2 comments:
What a great lesson. It also goes the other way. When I was younger, and my mother had spent time and money on my birthday/Christmas presents, it meant a great deal to her that I liked them. Often times I would be the one saying "thanks and turning around". I always recognized that my mother had been offended and so holidays were often greeted with hesitance from me. Now that I am a mother and doing all the present buying, I still have a hard time understanding the offense. If my daughter doesn't like something, I really want her to tell me and I have to say, I really don't care. Isn't it better to spend the money on something she likes and wants than something she pretends to like and then never wears?? My mother and I do not always see eye to eye, but reading your story reminds me that there are precious hearts at work in our children's gifts. Regardless of the usefulness of the offering, we should envelop our child with loving arms and revel in their desire to give of themselves to us.
Resolutionary,
Allison in Utah
This seeing eye to eye is a challenging obstacle isn't it? I had a difficult relationship with my father and it was often blamed on my membership in the church. I see now that there were challenges in the relationship long before I was converted. How do we deal with these things? How do you deal with them? I don't particularly like the taste of my own tongue and yet I want a loving close relationship. What do you do?
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