Gifts

Tomorrow is my baby's birthday. As difficult as it is to believe Houston will be 2 years old tomorrow! Almost immediately after conception we (rather my husband) decided to name our baby, should it be a boy, Houston. "Now that's a man's name...Houston," he would say. Having been on this journey previously with my oldest son, it has become more than apparent to me that the inequality in "All things Boy" and "All things Girl" is colossal. Just take one stroll through the Gap or Target or anywhere else that carries childrens' items and you will know what I am talking about. It makes me want to scream, "It's not fair!!" when I have to purchase the umpteenth long-sleeved T brandishing either a ball, boat, or truck as I reluctantly pass by that chocolate brown corduroy jumper with the hot pink gerber daisy on the front, coordinated with matching striped tights, brown leather mary janes, and adorable hair bow! ((It's really not fair.)) "Fine," I say, "we'll name him whatever you want." With boys it's all about functionality and Z-E-R-O frills.

It seems like yesterday that we were in the hospital laboring around waiting for that glorious 10 cm to arrive. During that time, we also happened to be watching the Astros whip up on the Cardinals in the NLCS to go to the World Series. Houston, my husband's most favorite name in the whole wide world, was about to diminish his even more beloved St. Louis Cardinals' hopes at a World Championship. Could he do it? Back and forth all night he paced, claiming, "Honey, I just don't think I can pull the trigger and name my son Houston of all things!" "But sweetie," I gently reminded him, "it's a man's name." Well, Houston did win that game and our baby's name did indeed remain Houston and neither of us could imagine it any other way. Besides, the Cardinals redeemed themselves with a championship after all the following year.

So anyway, here we are 2 years later preparing for the big day. The invitations have been sent, the decorations have been purchased, the menu planned. And today I went on the search for his birthday present. Both of my guys love sports and while the good Lord knows we need another sporting paraphernalia in this house like we need a hole in our heads, My Mike and I have had our heart set on getting Houston his own basketball goal. You know the small, adjustable, plastic one. The first two places we went, they were sold out and sold out. "Don't tell me people have gotten a jump start on their Christmas shopping," I muttered under my breath. I debated on getting him something different, something that he would like but probably not like as much. No, I decided. He will LOVE the goal and the goal he shall have! Well, all over Louisville I went and FINALLY found what I just was looking for. "I'll take it!" I said. I loaded it up in the back of my truck and off I went.

Driving home, I couldn't help but laugh at myself. Here is a child, a two year old mind you, and I have spent all of my morning looking for the perfect present to go along with his perfect party. Will he remember either of them on Sunday? Maybe. Will he remember them in a week from now? Doubtful. How about in a year from now? Definitely not. So why all of the trouble? Because he will LOVE it and more than that Mike and I will remember the look on his face 20 years from now. That's why. Also as I was driving I couldn't help but recall Max Lucado's Book "He Chose the Nails" and make a connection between my gift for my son and ALL of God's gifts to us. Lucado's book touches on this concept with both great humor and simple eloquence and if you get the chance, this book is phenomenal. Anyway as Lucado points out, the Lord doesn't have to give us anything, much less go above and beyond the call of duty just to put a smile on our face. In the book of Matthew it says, "If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good gifts to those who ask him!" Amazing when you think about it, isn't it? It's all the little extras, the sugar on top if you will, that He provides simply for our pleasure. Here's a poem from that book that sums it all up nicely:

He splashed orange in the sunrise
and cast the sky in blue.
And if you love to see geese as they gather,
chances are you'll see that too.

Did he have to make the squirrel's tail furry?
Was he obliged to make the birds sing?
And the funny way that chickens scurry
or the majesty of thunder when it rings?

Why give a flower fragrance? Why give food its taste?
Could it be
he loves to see
that look upon your face?