Surprise Christmas Gifts

After several years of my Mom and I duplicating gifts we started comparing notes. As we bought Christmas gifts for the family, we would call the other to report what we had purchased.

This system worked great for several years. My husband and father only purchased Christmas gifts for their spouses. Mom and I were in charge of Christmas shopping for the rest of the family.

The first Christmas Mom was married to my new stepfather we continued our tradition of keeping each other notified of what Christmas gifts we had bought.

On Christmas morning Santa came to our house and then my two sons and I went to Mom's house. After brunch, we all collected in the family room to exchange gifts. Taking turns opening gifts so everyone could see what the others got.

My sons jumped and shouted with joy when they ripped the wrapping paper off a package to revel a Atari video game system. Mom and I looked at each other in panic. Neither of us had bought the Atari!

We both tried to explain gently to the boys they had opened someone else's present. My oldest son insisted he and his brother's names were on the tag.Mom retrieved the gift tag and read it aloud, "To Shawn and Shannon, From Grandma and Grandpa".

She apologized to the boys saying they were right it was their game. Returning to set on the sofa next to me, she leaned over and whispered in my ear, "I didn't buy it. I have no idea where it came from."

About that time my stepfather who had been in the next room joined us. The boys thanked Grandpa for the game and he said, "Oh you're welcome, I thought you would like it."

Mom and I exchanged looks of surprise. Jim had bought the surprise Christmas gift and not told anyone. Not only for the boys but there were surprise Christmas gifts for everyone in the family. Each gift perfect for the recipient and something neither Mom nor I would have thought to purchase.

My surprise Christmas gift that year was a cream-colored flannel nightgown covered in small pink rose buds with a matching robe and slippers. My gift was warm, comfortable, pretty, and practical all in one.

Years later that nightgown remains one of my favorite Christmas gifts I ever got. The greatest gift I ever received is my salvation.

Ephesians 2:8 For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God

Romans 6:23 For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.