Even though every year he’s gotten a little older…
even though his family grew…and grew….and grew
It’s always been hard to buy him presents…for his birthday…and Christmas too.
Every time we ask him what he’d like…he grins from ear to ear…
His answer…“I don’t need or want for anything…I’m happy.”
and we know he is sincere.
As children who wanted everything we saw and everything money could buy…
this was hard for us to understand…so, one day, we asked him why.
“When I was young I was like most children, I presume.” Was how he started his reply.
“I wanted everything I saw…everything money could buy.”
“Oh, how I treasured all those gifts I received…my feelings for them were strong…
only to quickly leave them behind when the list for next Christmas came along.
“Then somewhere along the way those things I once wanted…
that I thought were so important…I realized…were not…
And now the things I treasure most…
time…
love…
happiness,…
family…
friendship…
peace…
are all things that can’t be bought.”
“I understand your predicament…this fact I happily concede…
how it must be hard to buy for someone who has everything they’ll ever need.”
“My hope, is that, one day, you’ll all be hard to buy presents for…
on your birthdays and Christmas too…
to understand…as you get older…
that’s what a life filled with joy and happiness will do.”