Priceless Presents

Priceless Presents

Everyday songs are written, television programs are scripted, and advertisements are illustrated in such a way as to emphasize the importance of material possessions. It seems our loved ones need the biggest and best and, ultimately, the most expensive products on the market. On a budget? Don't worry. Companies offer immediate credit to ensure that every gift giver can give the gifts that cost the most. But do we ever stop to consider the presents that have meant the most to us throughout the years? If we give the idea more than fleeting thought, we would easily realize that some of the best presents are the ones that cost the least.

Shortly after I began dating the woman who is now my wife, she commented, "You could give me a rock and paint it purple, and I would love it." This resulted from some excessive gift giving on my part. We attended colleges in different cities, and on the occasions we were able to see each other I always greeted her with a present. She had been the recipient of such items as flowers Ð'- expensive bouquets that were soon wilted and thrown out; candies Ð'- high-priced assortments that were soon devoured; jewelry Ð'- exclusive gems that were soon collecting dust in a jewelry box; and perfumes and lotions Ð'- posh fragrances that were soon emptied. Every time I attempted to win her heart with these gifts, she saw them (and me) as materialistic . . . an unattractive quality in her eyes. She soon let me know that it did not matter what the gift was as long as it came from the heart. Her favorite color was, and still is, purple. Her joking comment about the rock actually led to one of her most favorite gifts of our entire relationship, which now spans nearly eight years.

Months after the original comment about a purple rock was made while in a card shop in the mall, I noticed a display of colored stones. They were smooth and polished, but truly nothing more than rocks. They were available in a wide variety of colors, including purple. I could not resist purchasing a purple rock. I thought for sure she would laugh and tease me about taking her too seriously. However, the next time we were together and I gave her the gift; she smiled and said, "This is the perfect gift." I remembered her simple request for an item that had true meaning. She still carries the small, polished, purple stone. This was the beginning of my learning a lesson about the simplicity of true gift giving.

Two years after we were married, my wife and I began creating a family of our own. We soon became the proud parents of a baby girl, and later a baby boy. Being a father further taught me that best presents are the ones that cost the least. The refrigerator is lined with beautiful artwork smeared by pudgy little fingers and sloppily glued cut-outs. Handmade cards for special occasions such as birthdays and Father's days hang in my closet as a constant reminder of the simplicity of gift giving. The ties and colognes that have been received as the typical gifts for a dad have long been forgotten, but the cards from the heart will always