Surprising others used to be a challenge for me. If you read “Christmas Present Fiasco,” then you’re very well aware of this fact. After I grew up, I not only conquered that, but I lifted my ability to surprise to another level.
The Christmas after I got my first job, I wanted to buy a special present for my mom. To me, she deserved it. At this time, my parents were divorced and she had to work two jobs. One was a full-time day position and the other was part-time in the evenings and on some weekends. What in the world would I get her? Well, there was one thing my mom and I had in common: we both loved rings. So, I called a friend who sold jewelry. She brought me a selection of rings that were so pretty and sparkly. Yes, I love me some sparkle. Anyway, I picked one that was simple, but still elegant. It was what I could afford. She held it while I made payments. When I finally paid off the ring, I was giddy with excitement. I couldn’t wait for my mom to see it. Unlike my dad’s watch fiasco, I wanted her to be completely surprised when she opened her present. That’s when I realized I needed to gift it to her in a unique way.
The ring box was round with a red ribbon on the lid. I taped the top onto the box and hung it on a limb toward the back of the tree. Next, I wrote a Christmas poem that was actually a map that would lead her to find the ring box. I placed the poem/map in a box, wrapped it, and laid it under the tree with her name written on the tag. Needless to say, Mom was taken aback when she opened the poem/map. “What’s this?” I replied, “You’ll have to follow the poem’s directions to find your present.” She did just that. I was absolutely thrilled as I watched her search through the tree ornaments until she came upon the ring box. “I can’t believe I hadn’t noticed this.” After plying all of the tape off, she gently opened the lid. She gasped and was speechless for a few seconds. Her reaction at seeing the ring was the best gift for me that year.
“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath, and buyeth that field.” Matthew 13:44 (KJV)
What do most maps have in common? They have an X that marks where the spot where the treasure is buried or hidden. Instead of an X, the best treasure of all is marked with a cross. Naturally, I am referring to the Kingdom of Heaven. While it is absolutely priceless, it is free to all who will accept it.
I could tell Mom was having fun and felling a little confused as she hunted for her gift. If it had been me, I would’ve said, “Just give me the present and nobody gets hurt.”
Brooke Cox is an author, speaker, and storyteller. She was a 2016 Selah Awards Finalist for Debut Novel. Her children’s book: “Dinosaur Eggs,” is now available. It is based on Ephesians 6: The Armor of God. Her novel “Until the Moon Rises: A Conniving Cousin Mystery” is also available. Also, she has two books out in her storytelling series: “Saucy Southern Stories.” The Amazon links for her books may be found on her website: brookecoxstories.com. Please feel free to contact her. She would love to hear from you.