The gift

The other night Josh came home from a birthday party with a great big smile on his face. He told us that he had used most of his tokens at the arcade to get a dart gun for Matthew. He knew Matthew had been wanting a dart gun, so he returned some items he had previously picked for himself and traded it all for a dart gun for his brother. He couldn't wait to show him!

Matthew had gone to bed before he returned from the party, but Josh couldn't wait. He woke him up to show him. Before Josh could finish telling him about his gift, Matthew yelled "I don't want it!" Then he turned his head refusing to even look at what Josh had bought him. It broke Josh's heart. He had tears streaming down his face when he came down the stairs to tell us what happened. "I gave up my tickets to get Matthew something special, and he doesn't even want it."

Dallan tried to reassure him by saying, "You know, that warm feeling you had inside was the Holy Ghost helping you to know you made a kind choice, don't let Matthew's reaction take that away from you."
Josh replied, "I think it might be too late." My heart just ached for him.

After I tucked Josh in, I was thinking about the Savior. I wondered how often we turn our backs on His gift. I wondered how my older brother feels when I refuse to see what He has given me. How His heart must ache when we don't see that He is offering us all that He has.
I'm thankful for that lesson I learned from my boys. That night I prayed with more gratitude and my heart was filled with love for Him who has given me everything.

Incidentally, When I spoke with Matthew the next morning, he didn't even remember Josh's visit. He must have been asleep and was grouchy to be disturbed. Later I heard him apologize to Josh and explain what happened. Josh's heart filled right back up with that warm feeling as he saw Matthew accept his gift with gratitude and love.