The Greatest Gifts......

This entry most certainly has to be prefaced with this words "I am exhausted"! I am wondering even now about the wisdom of writing while under the influence of sleep deprivation, but I really, really want to get this out (and apparently it wants out) so, again I beg your indulgence as I set out, with very little sleep under my belt, to try and say something meaningful. Because that is rather the point of this particular entry. This, is my "thank you" to all of you who have gifted me in so many different ways over the years with your very own brands of love. Gifts, come in all kinds of different packages, and I want to take this opportunity to thank as many of you as possible for the gifts that are uniquely yours and that you have, at one time or another, chosen to share with me. To that end, I will be using names. None of the names are the "right" ones, (and are pretty horrid names at that!) but it is my hope, that in the description, you will each recognize yourself and accept my profound and heartfelt thanks. You have all enriched my life in a myriad of ways and for that, I will be forever in your debt.

It would seem that the majority of the gifts that have come my way, have done so predominantly over the past ten years. It started in Guelph, Ontario, with a small writing group facilitated by one of the most extraordinary men it has ever been my privilege to know. He was a great leader, and is a wonderful friend. His gifts to me knew no bounds but possibly the most outstanding gift was his gift for taking his marvelous photography and mixing it with his equally wonderful poetry and creating works of art that I can still admire thanks to that wonderful invention called the Internet. What an amazing gift to have and to share. I still look in wonder at the piece of artwork he gave me and think "this is one talented man. How did I ever get lucky enough to meet him and call him friend"? But the fact is, I did and for that, Gerald, I thank you.

Then there's the writing group as a whole. And you all know who you are! What an incredible bunch of talented people. Good to great writers one and all and you shared that writing with me! Writing. So individual. So personal. So incredibly well done. And you shared your gifts with me. You're wonderful! I owe you all so much!

It would seem that I know more and more truly great writers as time passes and Carl is yet another such person. His gift of story telling combined with his flair for putting it on paper in such a way as to cause laughter, tears, smiles, frowns and all range of emotion in between is nothing short of miraculous to me right now. I have been craving something that would touch me, and you my friend have done that. You shared your amazing gift of self unsparingly. For that I will be forever grateful.

My wonderful, beloved step-sons! I can never thank you enough guys! Not only are each of you talented in your own right but you both managed to find wonderful women to love, who have wonderful talent of their own. And all of you have been awesome enough to share your gifts with me through the years. Dan, (sorry, no name change on these guys!), you can create the most exotic and delicious dishes I've ever had, in even my tiny kitchen, and have done so just for me, on occasion. That's a true gift Hon! Thank you for sharing with me. And for being smart enough to forge such a wonderful relationship with that girl who is Katie, writer and painter extraordinaire and all 'round lovely woman...kudos Hon! You're both wonderful!

Don. You never cease to amaze. You can write the most incredible words on mere scraps, then pick up a guitar and make them come alive in a whole new way! You are yet another shining example of one who has enriched my life on so many levels. But your gift of writing and playing music is truly one to cherish and admire. I love that you've been kind enough over the years to share that with me. And that wonderful woman you love, who is yet another Kate. (Two Katies,thanks for that guys!) The woman who can pick up a paint brush, put it to canvas and suddenly where there was once nothing, there is now beauty. Live long and prosper guys! You both deserve the best!

In keeping with the music theme, there's now Peter, who once said, "To hear music. To make music. What an incredible gift". (with thanks to "Peter" for allowing me to use the quote). How right you are Peter! You, who are able to pick up a bass and make it do what you tell it to do and have that come out as something that I so love to listen to, is nothing short of astounding to someone like me, who has absolutely no talent in that area. You share that with me and I love you for it. More importantly perhaps, I appreciate you for it.

From music, the natural flow of "simply sound" springs forth. Wow Stuart! You can take "this" noise, combine it with "that" sound" and somehow create "the other" feast for the ears! Astonishing! Truly remarkable. And again, something you've shared with me on a very personal level when you took one of my poems and combined it with just the right sounds to make it a totally new, different and amazing piece of work. You're wonderful. Truly wonderful my dear, dear friend.

Out of a poetry group sprang yet another wonderfully gifted set of people willing to share their gifts with me. Among them a woman whose photography was and still is, breathtaking. Photography she had experience with before the poetry group. Poetry she did not. I cannot even conceive of what she might have turned out had she had even a working knowledge of poetry before the group. The truly great (there really is no other word here) poetry that Karen turned out astonishes and delights me even today. And again, she willingly shared this gift with me. A serious debt of gratitude!

Then there are those rare and special people like Darlene, Amanda and Kasey, who, simply by being nothing other than who they are, is gift enough. But of course it doesn't stop there. Not at all. Darlene, who has a lovely and (to me anyway) rather large home. Usually that seems to translate to "cold". Not so with this wonderful woman. She has the gift of creating a warm and inviting home where you always feel comfortable and most of the "goings on" happen in her kitchen. And here she truly struts her stuff! Darlene can do anything, I am convinced, in a kitchen. And the result is always the best food (and usually the most fattening!) you'll find this side of Scotland! What an incredible lady with an incredible gift that she seems to share with so very many others. I will love her forever, no matter how much distance separates us.

Amanda! What a truly delightful young woman! And that is absolutely the right word. Delightful. Full of delight! She is probably the most bounce backable person I have ever known! (yes, I know, resilient, or a host of other words would have been far more grammatically correct, but believe me, with Amanda, bounce backable works the best)! Though separated by distance, it is at least a shorter distance than Ontario so I get to see her once in a while. And she carries a smile, a laugh and a hug with her wherever she goes! Gifts that are always appreciated and often arriving just in the nick of time! Thank you Amanda-girl for being you and sharing that wonderful you with me!

And last, but by no means least, my wonderful Kasey. You never, ever cease to astonish and inspire me. You have more talent in your little finger than most people have in their entire beings. But this, I don't think, is your greatest gift. Your greatest gift my friend is that of grace. A gift you seem to have in abundance. I admire you. I aspire to be just a little more like you. I love you more than words can say. It almost seems that I am doing a disservice here by not saying more about this incredible woman. But really, sometimes even I recognize overkill. She is, quite simply, amazing. Period. No words can add to that.

And so, during this holiday season of giving and receiving gifts, it is my wish, for all of you, that you continue to share and nurture these gifts that you have so graciously shared with me. And from the bottom of my heart, thank you all for being a part of my life and for sharing all of these truly great gifts.

Gifts. They're everywhere. Look around you. At the person next to you on the bus. At the driver of the car that just cut you off. At the minister in your church. At the girl who bussed your table in the restaurant last night. They all have gifts to offer. Trust me on this one.



..........But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control. (Gal. 5:22,23)

Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays and Shalom everyone.
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