He gave them exactly what they asked for— but along with it they got an empty heart. Psalm 106:15 (TM)

I received a lot of really cool things from my parents and grandparents when I was a child. I was particularly impressed with my Big Wheel, which I rode so much I wore a hole in the plastic tire. My folks upgraded me to a Schwinn Sting-Ray 5 speed bicycle with the banana seat that was also expecially cool. Scott Borg and I popped an infinite number of wheelies up and down Madison Avenue riding that bike. There was a train set which was unexpected and absolutely awesome.

There were also a lot of things on my wish list my parents chose not to get for me. The Sears Christmas catalog was, annually, dog-eared and tattered from paging back and forth making my exhaustive list of material desires. There were things for which I begged ceaselessly and ended up empty-handed. But, I was definitely not empty hearted.

Looking back, I now realize that the grestest gifts I received from my parents and grandparents were not material. The greatest gifts I received were intangible, yet priceless, values like love, honesty, integrity, hard work, hospitality, self-lessness and forgiveness. I hope that I have been as equally successful at filling my children's hearts more than their momentary desires.

Creative Commons photo courtesy of Flickrand jane coffee