November 23
The holiday season is just around the corner. What’s the worst gift you’ve ever received? What’s the worst one you have ever given?
Sure, I know all about the languages of love. I’m an acts of service type of person when it comes to giving, and the gift of words when I’m receiving. (Does that surprise anyone? An author wanting to hear affirmations?) But physical gifts are good too, except I’m terrible at coming up with ideas for other people to give me. Jewelry used to be my fallback, but I’ve got so much now I can’t wear it all. With the pandemic, I’m not wearing any. I have to remember to put in earrings once in a while so the holes in my ears don’t close.
Now that I think about it, I was probably the same as a kid. I valued kind words and was hard to buy for. It wasn’t that I got bad gifts; it was more that I didn’t get the gifts on the top of my wish list.
There was the year I asked for a Bible for Christmas. I might have been in ninth grade at the time, but I’m not sure. You’d think that wouldn’t be a strange request in a religious family, right? But come Christmas, a Bible wasn’t one of the presents under the tree. I can’t tell you what I did receive, but I never understood why I didn’t get the Bible. I bought myself one when I got my first job.
Or there was the year I asked for a game board that was a combination checkers/chess/billiards set. I didn’t get one, but my older brother did. (Can you imagine my parents scratching their heads about that dilemma?) I ended up getting one from my husband the first year we were married. (And they still make them!)
My hubby is pretty good at giving gifts. But I made a rule early in our marriage that he wasn’t allowed to give me appliances as gifts unless I specifically requested them. He’s been really good at sticking to it.
Now, what’s the worst gift I’ve ever given?
You can probably guess that I’m bad at giving physical gifts, but not for the lack of trying. I need a list. Don’t tell me ‘whatever.’ I may get the right band but the wrong album. Or the wrong genre of music altogether. The wrong color or size of shirt. Or one that shrinks the first time it’s washed!
What’s the worst gift I’ve ever given? I don’t know. I’ve learned from it (I hope!) and wiped it from my memory.
Do you want to tell us about the worst gift you ever got? Head down to the comments and share. That way I can add them to my list of things never to buy.
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Until next time, stay safe out there!
November 23
The holiday season is just around the corner. What’s the worst gift you’ve ever received? What’s the worst one you have ever given?
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