I'm Just Sayin'!

         "The Gift He Gave...Oh What Incredible Joy!"

                                          “I’m Just Sayin’”

                                                                 by Alan P. Scaglione

What’s the best gift you ever received?

The one that surprised you… you never saw coming?
Remember that sense of joy?
Remember that sense of awe?
The one thing you wanted most… and someone got it for you?
And the one thing you didn’t even know you wanted—until someone got it for you?
I’ve had both of those experiences.
The first had to do with something I talked about for years.
Talked about it because… there was no way I could afford or would dare buy for myself.
But it was that gift, you know… that one!
“Someday, I’m going to have that… and it will be this way and look like this, and I will be sportin’ it on my wrist!”
Yeh… someday!
Well that “someday” came the Christmas of 2002!
All of the kids were home for Christmas.
I like to open my presents last—the family knows that!
I like to watch them open theirs and then… I will open all of mine.
So… that year, all of the kids actually got “Everything” they asked for!
They were elated—took a picture of that!
And it was my turn!
I opened each present, thankful for everything the kids had given me.
Then came the last present—from my Sweet Bella!
I remember seeing her take the camera—you have to know what a sign that is—Bella HATES pictures and never uses a camera!
She said, “Close your eyes and be ready for a big surprise!”
All of the kids lined up in front of me—they didn’t know what was coming, but they knew it was going to be BIG!
I closed my eyes and placed my hand inside the bag—felt like a box.
I pulled out the box—eyes still closed—and threw the bag aside.
On the count of three! 1-2-3! I opened my eyes!
And there it was—the Movado watch I had always wanted! The exact same one I had said “Someday…”
And there it was!
I was speechless—if you know me, you know how rare that is! I was so full of “Wow! You love me this much!”
Needless to say, I had such a sense of joy, elation, appreciation for “the gift!” and love for the gift giver!

Then there’s the other time… I got something I didn’t even know I wanted until… I got it!

It was the year I turned 50—yes, that was only 2 years ago!
Christmas—everyone else opened their presents—I opened mine last!
Nice presents—all done—thanked everyone—start to clean up.
Then my son, the one who isn’t really into gift giving—whips out a wrapped box—did I say wrapped?
Yep! My son had wrapped it himself—that in itself is a present!
 He is more the “I picked this up at the store” with it still in the store bag kind of gift giver!
Not this time—I was taken totally aback—my son standing there, in front of everyone—saying “Here Pops, I got something for ya!”
I took the box—my jaw still open wide from surprise!
He had me sit down and this time… HE took the camera!
What had he gotten me?
I had no idea—but again—I was totally surprised!
Everyone was watching—they all wondered—what had he gotten me?
And I opened the box and… there it was!
My Colts jersey—with 50 on the back and the name on the shoulder blade read “NANO” (means grandfather in Italian)!!!
WOW! Never even knew I wanted it UNTIL I put it on—never EVER felt so proud to wear a jersey!
Never more appreciative of someone who knew what I wanted even when I didn’t!

What’s this have to do with Christmas?

Think about it—one was something you never thought you could have in a million years!
The other—something you didn’t even know you wanted UNTIL you got it—then you realized how much you loved it!
The GIFT HE GAVE to us at Christmas—
We never thought we deserved or would ever possess and some of us may have never thought we even needed—A Savior!
Oh…That incredible joy!
¹⁰ And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.
¹¹ For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.
¹² And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
¹³ And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,
¹⁴ Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.
Luke 2:10-14

So… take time to appreciate the gift and the gift giver!

And allow yourself to experience that incredible joy—oh what joy- His gift!

Until Next Time

I’m Just Sayin’…
Brother “A”

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