Rick’s Favorite Birthday Gift

My youngest son, 4 years old, came to me in tears.  “I need to have a birthday present for Dad and I already spent all my money ($6 he saved for months from his tiny allowance to spend on 6 other people) on Christmas gifts.”  I told him it was fine and Dad knew he was loved.  But a gift to be given was ABSOLUTELY ESSENTIAL and I could see that.  Then a light bulb went off; I whispered a secret to him and as the tears turned into smiles he ran off to inform the others of his plan.  It was pure joy on his little face and the others listened to his great idea.

Rick has the pleasure of having a birthday the day after Christmas and we always try to make it a separate, special occasion which we don’t succeed at 100% but we try.  Rick sat at the table to receive his gifts and was highly suspicious with 5 small, hard packages and 1 larger one.  He unwrapped, one at a time, several small rocks and a large one that had been painted and had a special sticker on it.  He was still a little unclear about this gift but handled it well.

If anything, this gift appealed to Rick’s sense of humor.

And then, with the final gift unwrapped, he understood.  “Dad Rocks”.  The kids had gotten together and made a label to slip inside the requested jar for this gift and it truly has double meaning.  Rick “got it”! 
I saw something super-cute, somewhere one time, that said something about the little rocks and pebbles that children give to their moms or dads… or whoever is special to them.  A seemingly insignificant “gift” of a rock from a child may be the only thing they have to give you… and they gave it!  They thought enough of you to give you the only thing they have to give. 
So Rick’s favorite Birthday present this year was a jar of rocks… his very own rock collection… something he never thought he’d have… all because a little boy got his brothers and sisters together to help him give the only thing he had of his own to give and so it truly meant something beyond anything money could buy.  “DAD ROCKS!”