The Ultimate Gift: A Movie With A Vital Message

I think one of the greatest lessons in life (one that is easily forgotten,) is that love is the most important thing in life. Not money, not things, not positions, or possessions, titles nor accomplishments. It's the people you love, your family, children and spouse. I should know this more than most as my father died when I was four and my brother died when I was 12. I know what it is like to lose someone you love.

My mom just sent me a paper to edit that she is submitting for publishing. In it she wrote about my brother's death. I hadn't heard her describe what she experienced when he died so it was surprising for me to read her thoughts. She had warned me that what she wrote might be emotional for me, but since she's had a hard life she could have been referring to many things. This is what she wrote:

That night, I awoke to my son’s gasps for air. I grabbed him and held him close, screaming at the top of my lungs for help. The nurses came charging in and pulled me away. I didn’t know where to run; all I wanted to do was run and keep running! Instead, I sat in the hall, curled up in a corner like a frightened mouse being chased by a cat with nowhere to go. Without being told I knew my son was dying. Soon, I learned he died of a virus, Coxsackie B, which caused a massive heart attack. Now when asked how many children I have, I often find myself saying, “I never thought I would outlive my child.”

Life is so precious and I've learned that the hard way. Yet despite the terrible losses I've experienced, I can get caught up in the stress to earn a buck, the desire to accomplish something more tangible or more "important" than raising children, keeping my house clean and cooking wholesome food.

So I am grateful for movies like The Ultimate Gift that remind us that even if we had nothing, not a dime, no home, no job, and no prestige, the most important thing we'd need is love.

I watched this movie tonight only because my 16 year old daughter insisted I stop what I was doing and watch a movie with her. I told her to start it without me because I had too much to do and that she could watch it by herself as the kitchen is right off the living room in plain view. She persisted, so I ended up relenting.

I am so grateful for her persistence. I can't believe that there are only two years left before she becomes an adult and could possibly move away. I am so glad that I spent a couple of hours with her watching this movie. And I am also glad that I french braided her hair yesterday when she asked me to even though I didn't want to at first and it made me run behind schedule.

I hope next time she doesn't have to put so much effort into coaxing me to be involved with her. I am going to try to be more excited when she wants my attention in the future. I love her and my whole family so much.

May we all treasure our families and be more willing and eager to put our own interests and work aside and share our fleeting time with them. May we also make healthy choices so that we can live as long as possible that we may enjoy our children, grandchildren and even our great-grandchildren!