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| Green Sweater courtesy photobucket.com |
Ann Voskamp wrote about a Christmas
of Long ago when her elderly grandmother with the creaking knees, gave
matching ugly sweaters to both her and her sister. That story triggered a memory.
It must have been the
Christmas of 1947 that I received from my mother, a long sleeved bright green
cable knit cardigan sweater. I was a
selfish girl and not happy with what I had been given.
I was in high school, and one
cold wintery day during gym I put on my ugly sweater to give me warmth.
Soon I noticed another girl wearing an
identical sweater. I sidled up to her
and asked if she received her sweater for Christmas, and she replied, “Yes I
did.” She seemed happy with her sweater,
and I decided to be happy with mine.
I don’t remember commenting
that it probably was on sale and couldn’t be returned, but that is what I
thought at the time.
Another Christmas not that
long ago, I decided to order Christmas gifts from an online catalogue company,
and have them delivered to one of my family members who lived far away. Taking care to select each item, something
for each member of the family, I placed my order.
To put it mildly I was
shocked about two weeks later to receive a notice that all the packages had
been returned to the company. What burr
was under her saddle I was not certain, but something major had ticked her off.
Writing a Christmas card
which included a check, I mentioned that perhaps she could use the funds to
select something each member of the family would like, as I have trouble choosing
the right gift.
She wrote back that she was
pleased to do the shopping and had found just the right items for her family.
Problem solved and lesson
learned.
Hebews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Sylvia commented: So, they still appear: the bright green cable-knit cardigans under the tree! (heh)
Hebews 13:5 Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee.
Sylvia commented: So, they still appear: the bright green cable-knit cardigans under the tree! (heh)
4 comments:
That is why now I prefer to hive money as a gift so that the receiver could buy what she/he likes instead;)
Yep, we're probably all kind of selfish and hard to please (and may have more than we need of everything already) and giving (and receiving) gifts is so problematic that I have been (slowly) trying to alter our traditions around here to more meaningful doings. Traditions are slow to change, though. I guess it's the flavor of stability they have that makes people cling to them, especially in unstable times. So, they still appear: the bright green cable-knit cardigans! (heh)
I appreciate the honest yet willingness to lay down your pride so quickly. There is no better witness then and even now for others reading. Thanks, Hazel. I'm taking notes.
Vicki K - - "When I first saw this I thought ohhhh a new pattern for a knitted sweater, ha. In all honesty, I would have chosen a different color but loved the cables!
Enjoyed your message today Hazel, thank you"
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