Have you ever received a heifer gift? I did. I didn’t know whether to be offended or not. My brother gave it to me and the whole family laughed hysterically.
History
A little history makes the gift more understandable. Years ago as my creative husband cycled through his affectionate terms for me, he called me his “hot heifer.” Should I’ve been delighted he called me hot? Or punched him for calling me a heifer? My mixed emotion and reaction delighted him so much that name stuck for a while. He used it often and in front of others just to see my reaction again. My brother loved it and kept stirring it up even past my husband’s retiring of said pet name.
That was in the past and I thought gone forever, but my brother drew my name for Christmas. No, he didn’t get me a heifer, nor would that have made it my best Christmas ever. We aren’t so rural to be giving cows for Christmas. Although last year my sweet honey asked for laying hens, and I gave him “two French hens” that really were Rhode Island Reds. Whoohoo, fresh eggs on December 26th.
This Christmas
Instead, this year was almost stress free and definitely more relaxed. Instead of trying to find some gift for loved ones that already have all they need and most all their wants, we opted to try something new. Putting shopping stress behind us, we decided to give to a charity in the name of our loved ones. We spent time looking for a charity that matched the person’s likes, concerns, and personality. Then made the donation and wrote a card describing the charity and why we chose that particular one. It was fun.
For our thirteen year old who eats often, we gave to World Hunger. Our nineteen year old wanted a donation to the Pregnancy Care Center in their honor. Our sixteen year old got fresh water through Thirst No More. Grandmother sat at the computer and helped the three kids pick a Compassion International child to adopt. We now have Alejandro from Peru as a new son. He’s so cute! I gave my brother who plays lots of ball, a donation in his name to Texas Sports Reach, a ministry that goes into prisons, plays softball and shares the gospel with the prisoners. My wonderful husband received a donation in his name to the Ronald McDonald House to help families with very sick children.
Then my brother gave me my card…
The front of the card had a huge wildebeest-looking, foreign, something-or-other kind of cow on it. A little boy held the beast by a tethered rope at a river. Upon opening the card it read, “In your honor, a gift has been made to Heifer International to help struggling people around the world become self-reliant for food and income.”
Laughter filled the room. Oh my gosh, you’d of thought Jeff Foxworthy just told the best joke ever. Will I ever live that name down? Thanks to the loving men in my life!
We had a great time enjoying one another and escaped all the stress of Christmas shopping. I was amazed at how relaxed Christmas could be. I think we’ve stumbled upon a great tradition for our family.
