You often hear people ask, "What do you give someone who has everything?"
When I moved out of my parents home 35 years ago and for the following 13 years, until my Father died in 1984, he would make unannounced surprise visits to my apartment or house. My Father would always drop something off, like fresh bread from a bakery or fresh fruit from the farmers market.
As a young married couple, his visits were not always at the best picked times. I often thought that he was not being very considerate. When we started to raise a family, my Father's tradition of a surprise visit continued with only one exception - the frequency increased!
Now I am a Grandpa. I started making surprise visits to our son and daughter-in-law's home since our first grandchild was born. I use the excuse that I am dropping off some fresh treat for "the boys".
When Father's Day or my Father's birthday rolled around, I always had trouble trying to find a gift for the man who seemed to have everything he needed or wanted. Please keep in mind, my Father was not independently wealthy. His tastes were simple. With four children, his income was accounted for with family expenses.
It wasn't until my most recent surprise visit to "the boys" that I truly realized my Father was giving himself a gift with each surprise visit. The gift was the simple joy of seeing the ones you love without the formality of a planned visit.
Next time you are wondering, "what to give the man who has everything", what to give your Father for Father's Day, his birthday or holiday, give him a surprise visit. But remember, don,t give it to him related to any of those special days, make it a surprise.
Thank you Dad for a special gift. Dad, thank you for the gift of a life lesson I am now sharing with the world. Thank you for teaching me to keep life simple, in a loving way. I can assure you, it was not how I felt during your first surprise visits thirty five years ago, but times and my perspectives have changed.
Dad, you have given me a gift, that has everything.
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