“The Gift You Are”
Having a wonderful day celebrating Lou Ann’s birthday. I made her a vegan chocolate cake which we are about to eat. Birthdays of course are annual reminders of when we started this current incarnation. They are also days when gifts are given and received. In my family growing up, we mostly only received gifts at Christmas. Because we often had only my mother’s income to support four others, we went without a lot of things. Somehow Christmas was a magical time when there were several presents under the tree for each. My dad would put clues on my mom’s presents for her to figure out before opening. A gift from my father that we do in our home today. Each of us opens one of their gifts and reads the clue while the rest of us join in and try to figure out the riddle!
During the Korean conflict I had a paper route and a news stand near the Sears and Roebuck store. I would leave a pile of papers sitting there for people to purchase while I went on a delivery route on foot near Santa Monica and Western in downtown Hollywood California. Papers cost a nickel. I would go on my route and deliver to places like the Bank of America and a business down an alley whose proprietors were female and dressed colorfully. I would collect once a month from the patrons. The bank manager gave me exactly five cents per paper. The colorfully dressed, heavily perfumed ladies would give me five dollars or about four times the amount. I was told at my church that the banker person was a better person than the ladies of the alley, but not in my heart.
This was also the year that I could buy Christmas presents for others with my paper route money. I discovered for the first time for me that I felt a greater joy in giving the gifts than in receiving. We are all gifts to each other wrapped in seven billion earth suits. There has never been a gift exactly like you and there will never be. Remember the gift you are and give yourself away! From my heart to yours, Thomas
Here is another John Denver song. I will post the video also!
Imagine the moment the sun came shining through. Imagine that ray of sunshine as you.
Remember your darkest hour with dawn still far away.
Remember the way that you longed for morning’s light.
And think of yourself as a candle in the night.
Make believe this is the first day, everything all brand new.
Make believe that the sun is your own lucky star, and then understand the kind of gift you are.The gift you are, like the very first breath of spring.
The gift you are, all the joy that love can bring,
The gift you are, all of our dreams come true. The gift you are, the gift of you.You are the promise of all the ages, you are the Prodigal Son,
You are the vision of prophets and sages, you are the only one.
Dream of a bright tomorrow, know that your dream will come true.
Carry your dream in a sparkling crystal jar, then you will know the kind of gift you are.The gift you are, like the very first breath of spring.
The gift you are, all the joy that love can bring,
The gift you are, all of our dreams come true. The gift you are, the gift of you.