Long after the gifts…

My son had his ninth birthday a couple weeks ago.

After he left for school that day, I went to the store, got him a balloon as a surprise and a couple dozen donuts to share with his class.

When I showed up in his classroom, he beamed. His teacher helped him to clip the balloon to his desk and his classmates oohed and aahed at the donuts. I could tell he was surprised and happy.

About two hours later, as I was out running errands, I got an email on my phone from his teacher…

“Your son can’t stop smiling. It’s too cute,” she wrote.

And it made me smile, too.

I loved making my son feel special, and it felt even better knowing my surprise had brought him so much joy.

It got me thinking, too.

Is that how I am with the gifts in my life?

Does a smile stay on my face long after I receive them?

Does my joy linger?

Or do I quickly move on, maybe even forgetting that so many of the people, events, and things in my life ARE gifts?

That moment of picturing my son still sitting at his desk, smiling proudly up at that birthday balloon, made me realize how much I want to appreciate the blessings in my life too.

I want God to see me smiling with gratitude…

and I want to be filled with a joy that stays,

long after the gifts are given. 🙂

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” James 1:17