The Best Gift

As I sat down to write my December Monthly Musings post, my thoughts turned to Brad’s childhood anecdotes about the proper way to gift a Nerf football. Through his telling, it became obvious that my late husband loved to pull gentle pranks on his friends and siblings when it came time for gift giving in their early years. He recounted with glee how he would disguise the gift of a Nerf football by placing it in the largest box available. On other occasions, the football was placed in an appropriately small box, only to be cleverly concealed by putting the little box inside a series of subsequently larger ones. No matter the tactic, the goal was always the same: to fool the recipient into thinking the gift was much more substantial than it actually was. 

While the present itself was enjoyable, the process of opening the gift became its own fun and memorable pastime, too. As I reflect on the traits that made Brad who he was, in many ways, his Nerf football tales encapsulate his approach to living. Indeed, it emphasizes his humor, his playfulness, his storytelling ability, and how much he enjoyed the simple pleasures of life. Thinking about the holidays and Brad's way of connecting with loved ones makes me miss him. When the days are dark and cold in the Winter months, I especially miss his almost childlike ability to find delight in everyday things. 

Though these thoughts bring up some melancholic feelings, they also make me smile as I know that stories like these help keep his memory and his spirit alive. If you are missing a loved one this holiday season, I believe that this approach can help soften the heartache you are likely feeling. Perhaps you could set aside time during your festivities to share some of your beloved's best stories and even engage in some of the things that you used to do together. Whether you choose to simply eat some of their favorite foods, enjoy one of their preferred hobbies, or give a gift in their honor, doing so may bring a little more joy and, in my case, a bit more irreverence to the season.