My wife had some of her friends from out of town come visit us today and we had a BBQ. Between the three families there were 12 kids and they played very well together. It made me especially glad that I had purchased some fun noodles as that was the most popular toy. Why beating the tar out of each other with three foot long foam pads makes children feel so close to each other is still beyond me, but beat each other and become close they did.
When it was time for one family to leave (who stopped here on their way to Nevada) my son, Nathan, wanted to give his new friend some matchbox cars. My wife told him he could, so he gave two matchbox cars to one of the boys in the family. The boy loved the cars so I told Nathan he could give them all some toys if he wanted to. He was very excited and yelled for them not to leave as he sped back into the house looking for some toys to give them.
In the toy room I directed him toward the huge pile of cars that we have. He told me that he wanted to give them different toys and immediately went to his knights and castle toys and grabbed a couple guys. I redirected him to the cars and suggested he give them all some cars since we had so many of them.
“Daddy, they’ll love these toys,” Nathan said. “I know because I love these toys so much.” With that he grabbed a couple of his knight toys and ran out to the car to give his favorite toys away “because they’ll like them.”
In the end our home was short four cars and two knights that we will never miss. In return my son taught me a valuable lesson and role modeled for me what selfless love is all about.
Do I give my best, or what I have extra of? When I give, do I give from the heart, or in attempt to look like I care?
My son gave his best because he truly wanted to bless his new friends (and friends he may never see again) with toys that they would really like. They couldn’t, and probably will never repay him this act of kindness and he didn’t even consider this. My son made a fool of me, and I’m glad he did. I just hope that someday I can stop playing the fool.
“He is no fool who gives what he cannot keep, to gain what he cannot lose.” Jim ElliottToday my son made a fool of me.
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