Dec
8
2020
The Gift Of A Mug
Posted in Christmas 4 Comments
There is a small cabinet above my refrigerator.
I keep large serving bowls there.
I have glass baking dishes there.
In the back of the cabinet, I have quite an assortment of mugs.
What is it about mugs?
They seem to multiply.
They are the perfect gift, until you realize that you simply do not have the room for any more.
They can take over a cabinet in the blink of an eye.
I have mugs designating me as the Mom of the college my children attended.
I have mugs from a few adorable coffee shops.
I have mugs that I thought were cute at the time.
I have Christmas mugs.
It is always fun to get on the step stool and take out all the Christmas mugs.
My youngest daughter was helping me.
I handed the mugs to her and she placed them on the kitchen island.
It was then she reminded me that a few of those mugs were hers.
She was right.
There are a few mugs that she always used when she lived here.
Others could use them, too, but it was understood that they were truly her mugs.
She enjoyed seeing them again since they were put away last winter.
The one that I always liked was the Coffee for Santa mug.
It has a cute vintage look.
She actually has a matching milk bottle with Milk for Santa on the front.
This mug was hers; how I wished we had bought two of those mugs that day.
Behind the Christmas mugs, I had Christmas dishes that I stored after I got a new set.
She was so excited to hear that I was giving the old set to her.
Living her own apartment, I knew she would love to have them.
She left that day with two small bins filled with Christmas things to enjoy.
I saw the large mug that was always used for hot chocolate.
It was my mug; however there once were two of them.
I remember when one of my daughters gave me that mug.
She and both of my sons worked at a lovely garden center that closed many years ago.
At the time, the garden center was the place to shop.
It was the place to be at Christmas time.
Victorian Carolers walked around as the customers sipped hot cocoa.
Lovely gifts in the gift shop were a feast for the eyes.
The Christmas trees, ornaments, and decorations were a treat to see.
So much time was spent to give the customers a wonderful shopping experience.
My daughter worked inside the gift shop.
My sons worked in the garden center.
Christmas time was their busiest season.
It was impossible to count the number of Christmas trees they sold and attached to car roofs.
My sons got so many tips at Christmas time.
They worked together and got the tree tying down to a science for any car in front of them.
My daughter found the two large mugs in that gift shop.
She bought them and wrapped them for me.
Even though they were my mugs, we each used one when we watched a Christmas movie together.
It was our tradition.
I don’t remember how it happened, but one of the mugs broke.
I was so disappointed.
It was only a mug, but there were memories attached to it.
I had to tell my daughter.
That’s OK, Momma, she said.
Which one broke?
I had to tell her that it was the one she always used.
From then on, I gave her the mug that I used.
In the scheme of things, it was just a mug.
Like all possessions, the history behind it, or the stories that go with it, are special.
I can go through my house and tell the story about most everything in it.
The thing doesn’t have to be grand, but the memory behind it is priceless.
Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. (Colossians 3:2)
Especially this time of year, we are giving and receiving gifts.
The person who gives the gift is dear to us.
The gift itself holds precious memories.
Gifts are meant to be that way.
However, we mustn’t hold gifts and possessions too tightly.
Alistair Begg said it best.
Hold material goods and wealth on a flat palm and not in a clenched fist.
No white knuckle grasp for things that will not last.
We can and should be thankful for gifts given to us.
We hope that the gifts we give to others will bless them.
However, if we look down at our knuckles and see they are white, we need to loosen up.
We need to hold the things of this world loosely as we express gratitude for them.
Two things at once.
Gratitude and a loose grip.
Thankfulness and readiness to give things away.
Enjoying the gift, but treasuring the giver.
Treasuring the Giver.
The real Giver who gives all good gifts.
The real Giver whose gifts last beyond the things that moths and rust destroy.
The Giver who gave His Son to us, wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.
For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life. (John 3:16)
The Giver gave the Gift of His Son.
Jesus is the one Gift that we can cling to.
We take hold of Him.
With open hands, we are able to receive all that God has for us and give that Gift to others.
What a precious word for this Christmas season! Thank you, dear Gina. Indeed, no “white knuckle” giving or holding onto gifts. Open palms, trusting God with what He gives and what He takes away!! Merry Christmas! Lorna Rande
Thank you, Lorna.
There is a lesson in this for all of us.
I am so delighted that God brought us together to combine the gifts He has given us.
I pray there will be more collaboration.
Have a Blessed Christmas.
Gina
Frank and I so enjoyed your blog this morning. We look forward to reading it, very much like opening a gift.
Nancy, that warms my heart.
You and Frank are so encouraging.
I am delighted that this was a gift to you.
Gina