One Of the Best Gifts

The older I get, the harder it is to remember all of the Christmases I've celebrated. It is even harder to remember many of the gifts I have received. This year, I have had a hard time coming up with a list for Kathy. She is the conduit to our families for ideas. I guess I'm more focused on celebrating the season and enjoying our family here at home, as well as our son's, their wives and children, when they get here later in December. I'm also looking forward to sitting by our tree, reading and enjoying the atmosphere of this wonderful season.

I've been working down in our basement for the past few days. We're painting, cleaning and scrubbing tile floors, installing new lights and generally getting ready for the holidays. As I was thinking about this blog yesterday, I noticed one of the best gifts I have ever received. The interesting thing about this gift is that it wasn't given to me at Christmas, it came to me when we moved from Manteca, California to Denver, Colorado. I worked at First Assembly in Manteca for 7 years, once in the 70s and the second time in the 80s. The second time we were there, I directed the choir every Sunday standing on a small step, in order for the last row of the choir to be able to see me. I have had to use a step in a couple of churches for this same reason. In fact, when we left First Assembly in Albany, Oregon, the choir all signed the step I used and they gave it to me as a parting gift. Apparently they didn't think that their next minister of music would be vertically challenged and would need the "box." The gift I received in Manteca was similar, but it was a small step stool built by the husband and father of two of my choir members. Here is a picture of my stool that was built by Don Graves.

I have used this stool for virtually every home project I have ever worked on. This week, in my basement, I have used it over and over again. By the way, Don's daughter Regina is one of the finest sopranos I have ever had in one of my choirs. She is a wonderful soloist. Her mom, Wanda, was very good as well. At a farewell reception, the Graves family presented this stool to me. Little did they know that 20 years later I would consider it one of the best gifts I have ever received. As you can see, it's a little beat up, painted on and a little rickety. But I suspect I'll use it until it completely falls apart.
 
This Christmas season I want to share, via this blog, some of the wonderful stories I have collected over the years. I will also share some of the remarkable gifts I have received. Regardless, I am so thankful for the wonderful gift of life that Christ gave us in His coming to earth to live, die and be resurrected to reconcile us to the Father. There is no better gift. This season is our chance to tell a desperate world about His coming, and His gift to us.

Time to put my stool away, I'm finished with it for this project. I'll keep it close by...