By Brandon Dabling
I was talking to my dad a couple Sundays ago about the most memorable Christmas presents he''d received in his lifetime. After thinking for a moment, he told me there were two things that stood out in his memory - and as much as he''s taught me about manliness, neither of them were the John Wayne movies I''d given him throughout the years.
I was interested in what he had to say because I''ve never been able to nail down the perfect gift for my father, and chances are I''ll fail again this year. My dad is not an easy person to shop for. If you ask him what he wants for Christmas, he just smiles and says 'Oh, you don''t have to worry about getting me anything. I''ve got everything I need.' And while that''s probably true, it''s not much help when you''re perusing the isles at Barnes and Noble. Even if by some odd chance he did think of something he wanted, he''d just thank me for reminding him and then go out and buy it himself.
The most meaningful presents, he told me, are the ones that had meaning attached to them. My dad figures he''s received at least 600 presents in his lifetime (10 a year and you do the math), and yet only two have stayed in his heart: a photo album my sister gave him and a scrapbook from when he and my mom were dating - mementos and post-date thoughts and all.
I wasn''t surprised these were the gifts that meant the most to my dad. I''ve known him long enough to know he has a soft side. I was just disappointed one of my gifts didn''t make the list - not because I thought he never like my presents, but because I''d never put enough thought into his gift.
He''s right though. Thinking back on the gifts I''ve received, they''ve all been the ones that in some way represented love and sacrifice on behalf of the giver. The one gift I remember is a home-made blanket my mother gave me seven years ago. Later that particular Christmas, my dad took me aside and told me how much my mom put into that present, and how she''d stayed up late the past two months making me the blanket. I was only a teenager then, but I knew her sacrifice made that blanket special.
There''s another reason we give gifts on Christmas and it has something to do with tying our hearts to those to whom we give our presents. Last year, for the first time, I realized this.
Christmas shopping during college is always interesting - trying to see how far I can make my textbook sellback money go and still afford gas to get home. I remember walking through the store thinking of all the people I wanted to buy presents for and thinking how I wouldn''t be able to get them anything they really wanted.
That thought didn''t last long though. I began thinking of the individual people for whom I was buying presents. I couldn''t help but smile as I remembered all the crazy times my brothers and I had playing baseball in the basement or trying to cook hot dogs in the bathroom sink - neither one of those ever turned out very well.
As I thought about these people individually, a funny thing happened - I began thinking of them and what they meant to me, instead of just another present to buy. I knew I was getting them something because I loved them. For the moment, it tied me to them even if it didn''t get them a better present.
I think these two stories of my dad and my shopping last year have a lot in common. As simple as it is, the best Christmas gifts come from the heart. They have the ability to tie us to someone in a way something from the store or even the words, 'I love you,' never could.
In a way, my dad said as we finished talking that day, the most meaningful presents we could ever give or receive are all born of the same elements that tied us to that Ultimate gift - love and sacrifice. I couldn''t agree with him more.
Brandon Dabling is the Issues and Ideas Editor for The Daily Universe.