The Greatest Gift
By Jim Hunt for the News and Journal
When the holidays roll around, one of the hardest questions I face is, “What would you like for
Christmas?” I search my mind, trying to think of something, but I always come up blank.
Sometimes I’ll drive to Lowe’s and wander the aisles, hoping inspiration strikes. I’ve already
exhausted all the handyman tools they have on display, and I end up coming home telling
everyone to just get me a gift card—though I usually carry them around in my wallet for months
and forget I have them. I don’t ask for clothes anymore either, as they just stack up in my closet
before eventually heading to the Salvation Army donation center.
At 74, I realize I already have just about every material thing I once thought was essential for
happiness. I used to want the latest stereo equipment, and it was easy to find a new record, tape,
or CD from my favorite artist. Now, my iPhone holds everything that once filled my living room
or blasted music in my car. Recently, while cleaning out my storage area, I came across four
massive speakers that are still as good as the day I bought them. But now, they just take up space
alongside boxes of CDs, tuners, amplifiers, and other gadgets that once seemed indispensable.
They feel too valuable to throw away, yet I doubt anyone would pay more than a few bucks to
haul them off.
After a lifetime of being the ultimate consumer, I’ve come to realize that the greatest gifts aren’t
things you can buy. The greatest gifts are love and time. I treasure the artwork and pottery my
oldest granddaughter has made for me, proudly displayed in my home and office. I cherish time
with my family, whether it’s watching a ball game, attending a concert, or enjoying any of the
activities my granddaughters are involved in. My weekly breakfast with my youngest
granddaughter is the highlight of my week, made even better when all four granddaughters join
us.
My life has been blessed with many incredible experiences and opportunities, and nothing makes
me happier than brightening someone’s day—with a story, a kind gesture, or a few dollars to help
lighten their load. I recently read that the act of giving has a profound effect on the body’s
chemistry, comparable to the strongest medicines. As my regular readers know, I love writing
about the quiet heroes among us—those who perform acts of kindness and love, not for
recognition, but simply because it’s the right thing to do.
I’ve come to believe that the greatest gift is the one you give to someone who can do nothing for
you in return. It’s the kind word or gesture given in private, the forgiveness you offer to the
person who cuts you off in traffic, or the patience you show to someone who jumps ahead of you
in line at the post office. It’s the selfless act, like planting a tree whose shade you’ll never sit
under.
Building a better world is possible, but it requires us to give more than we receive. Be the bright
light that shines in a sometimes dark world.