The Gift of the Magi Revisited



A co-worker asked me the other day, "What did you get for Christmas this year, she said, "You know, what one thing did you get that you really wanted?"

As I began to tell her, O. Henry's classic story, 'The Gift of the Magi' came immediately to my mind. A simple premise really, a husband and wife sacrifice something they particularly prize in order to buy the other the gift that they desire. The wife sells her hair to buy her beloved husband an ornate chain for a favorite watch, while he in turn sells the watch to buy tortiseshell combs for his adored wife's long beautiful hair.

While I don't count my act of seeming self-sacrifice to be anywhere near the level of those immortal lovers, it did in turn present me with both a treasured gift and a wonderful opportunity to share the story I am about to relate.

When I went back to work approximately 2 months ago, a small germ of an idea lodged itself in the back of my mind. Perhaps, I thought, 'if I were to economize on some things and put a few dollars away every paycheck, I might be able to save for a flat-screened television'. It's not that I particularly needed a TV, the 27" analog behemoth that resides on my chest of drawers is in working order and perfectly adequate. In fact many times when faced with the reality of how many people in my county of Florida are literally starving, (1 in 5 families) and are living in their vehicles, I felt ashamed at even thinking of it. But, think it, I admit, I did.

All of these fine thoughts came to a crashing halt when my cat fell ill in early November, racking up a bill that now prompts me to want many times to embroider a t-shirt for myself that states, 'My Cat and My Paycheck Go to Lake Mary Veterinary Clinic'! 

Every December, the company I have now been contracted to twice throws an elaborate Holiday (Christmas, eeesh, why can't we use that word anymore!) Dinner/Dance. At this elegant soiree, they raffle off dozens of items, Blu-Ray players, IPOD's, Walmart/Best Buy Gift Cards and....Flat Screen TV's! Of course, I thought, 'Maybe I'll win the flat screen this year!'  Then, as is its wont, life threw me another curve ball. The same Saturday that the dinner dance was being held turned out to be the same night a family dinner party was being held in honor of my niece, Penelope (names again have been changed to protect the innocent).

So there I was on the heels of a dilemma, on one hand I could go to the dance and possibly win the TV, but on the other hand I thought 'isn't family infinitely more important than a dance and a TV' Was there any other choice? I went to the family dinner. I admit it, more than once as I snapped beans, piped potatoes from a pastry bag, and generally helped get things ready for the party, I sulked inwardly and wondered if I'd have gone to the party, might I have won something, maybe even one of the TV's. As it happens, a guy in my department actually did win a flat screen at the dinner.

Fast foward a few days and it was Christmas Day. Once again I found myself snapping beans and helping to get ready for another family feast. As I watched the kids open presents, I opened one of mine which my mother announced, 'This is from your stepdad!' and I opened a bag containing an HDMI cable, which I gamely held up and tried to be grateful for, "A cable.. I said feeling puzzled,  'I don't quite understand' and my Mom said, "wait a minute" upon which time a large box was slid in front of me and a few tears of holly printed paper and there it was... the flat-screened television!! Well...anyone who reads this blog knows that I choked back a few tears and I kept saying "Oh my gosh!, Oh my gosh!", until one of my nieces actually asked me to stop which I promptly ignored with another "Oh my gosh!"

Turns out that my stepdad DID go to his holiday party and won the raffle! The big prize...the flat screen TV.
After relating this story to my co-worker, 'she said, 'You know, whenever you look at this TV, you will think of your parents'. I said, "Yeah, I will ". But actually, whenever I look at this TV, I will think of how many times we are gifted things because of self-sacrifice. Sacrificing something that you want to make someone else's dream come true. When I look at that TV, I will think of the Magi...