My husband passed away in 2006 and I reconnected with my high school boyfriend. We have been together almost a year now and on the night of my eldest son's school concert he asked my boyfriend if he could call him Dad.
Chris(my boyfriend) was so touched. He said it made his Christmas, hell it made his year!! He has no kids of his own and wonders if he's doing okay. From my son's request it seems that he is doing more than okay!!
What is/was the greatest non-material gift you ever received?
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My best non-material gift(s) include stories like yours........
I would have to say the way my husband loves our children. I couldn't ask for anything more in a father, he'd do anything for them. They make him so happy and he makes them laugh till they cry. Watching this is the greatest gift I could ever ask for.
Love...from my family
One in particular that stands out, though. This time last year I was in the hospital w/chest pains, for 11 days. A young, female hospital chaplain came by to visit me on my last day, the date I was being discharged. In fact, I was already dressed in my street clothes and I was packed, waiting for my wife to get off work to pick me up.
She walked in the room carrying a small harp over her shoulder. I made a corny joke about it, probably out of insecurity because she was so beautiful and I felt so vulnerable "needing" a pastoral call.
We visited for a few moments before she looked at me and said, "Would you mind if I played a song for you?" I shrugged my shoulders rather awkwardly and said "Sure, why not?" I was still being smug and a bit of a macho-Italian guy.
About 20 seconds into the song she was playing on her harp, I began to weep uncontrollably. My heart, which had felt as if it were made of stone, and encrusted with ice due to all of the trials, fights, struggles, and bitterness I had experienced over the months, had suddenly melted in a moments' time.
When she finished, the chaplain took my hands and said "I would like to pray with you," and she did; nothing fancy. I told her upon her departure "That was the nicest thing anyone has ever done for me;" as of this writing, that statement stands.
Thank you for sharing your greatest gift, it helped me remember one I had received.
1) the gift of forgiveness and the hope of eternal life with Jesus.
2) Beyond that it would be when God allowed me to return to my life in 1979.He had allowed me to live when I attempted suicide many times. The last episode I had accidentally over dosed and I awoke with a memory that God told me I couldn't allow this to happen again, as he could not send me back again. He said I had more to do in my life and many people were counting on me.
3) God sent me my husband John and restored to me my older two children that were kidnapped from me and gave me two more children. I who was down the well in 1978 as I had lost everything and had nothing to live for, received a family to love and who loves me.
You just commented on my greatest gift for 2007 ;)
The best non-material gift I ever received was during Christmas at my Grandma's house awhile back. The family had taken a picture together and didn't tell her. She prized her grandkids beyond anything else, and always managed to scrounge our ever-busy families together. So when we wrapped up the picture and gave it to her as a gift, we all sat around and waited excitedly for her to open it. Tears streamed out when she first looked at it. Silent tears...the best kind. I had never seen her cry in my life. But it was a good cry, and those are worth more than any wrapped up box with a bow on top.
The greatest gift to give or receive is unconditional love, followed by nonjudgmental friendship.
I have two friends that fell into that category and they are gems to the core. I am soooo blessed to have them.
As a dad, it feels real good to be called that. Its better when heaven lets you meet the child to do it.
I am so happy for you all!
There are so many terrific stories of special non-material gifts in the comments. It was a pleasure to read them!
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