Learning to be thankful, to say thank-you, is a valuable life lesson.
What we frequently omit teaching is that thanks is something that words are, sometimes, inadequate to express.
This past fall our son was fortunate to be part of a provincial championship football team. The team, which hubby was able to assist in coaching, was undefeated in the season and in playoffs.
Once the championship was theirs, so were metals around their necks, plaques, and a pile of athletic wear, handed out at a banquet. The players also had the opportunity to purchase a honking big ring, to remember how their hard work, perseverance and tenacity payed off in being able to call themselves champions.
Our son’s eyes were as big as saucers, sparkling with thoughts of that winners ring placed on his finger, to show to all who looked, that
he was part of a winning team!
The cost of the rings was as significant as their size. My heart dropped when I saw the price, knowing that there was no way that we could budget such a ‘frivolous’ purchase. Hubby and I contemplated making it a Christmas/birthday gift … still over budget. Our son did not have that amount of money, either.
It was not going to happen.
Our son is our child who rarely asks for anything (other than ‘just a few more minutes’ on a video game), and so when he does ask, we know it is something he really desires.
He asked about the ring …
and with a lump in my throat, I looked up (because he has outgrown me) at his deep blue eyes, about to declare my disappointing response,
but he saw the answer before I spoke it, and said,
“It’s expensive, I know.”
And that was that.
This weekend, months after the team hoisted the trophy of champions up into the air, our son awoke, and we handed to him a heavy jewelery store box.
Again, his eyes were as a big as saucers.
“You bought me a ring?” He asked in disbelief.
And we said, “no.”
Hubby then told him the story of how an (unnamed) parent had purchased it for him. They had noticed that Ben did not order a ring, and they wondered if the reason was financial, and, if so, could they purchase a ring for our son.
His disbelief left him as speechless as it did us.
All weekend he has said, been saying,
“I just can’t believe that someone did this for me. I am speechless.”
And, as he attempts to put that lack of words into a thank-you note, he will learn that sometimes thanks seems inadequate for the gift that was given.
And it is not just our son who is speechless, but hubby and I as well.
itsawonderfilledlife 