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Generosity and Those Silly Magi.

Melissa Beene Ford/ Uncategorized

Remember that great short story, The Gift of the Magi, that we had to read once upon a time in high school literature class?

Gosh, I loved that story.

But then I’m a sucker for any story with a surprise twist at the end. And, when it’s a sentimental story about love and sacrifice, WITH a surprise twist thrown in at the end, then you’ve got the perfect short story, ranking almost up there with Rebecca and To Kill a Mockingbird as one of the best of the best high school reads.

For those of you who don’t remember it, due to possibly having a life outside of books during high school (what would that have been like, I wonder?) it’s about this young couple (Jim and Della) who are struggling to make it, living on love, and barely able to afford their rent.

Christmas rolls around, and being that they’re so in love, they each plot secretly to buy the other one the perfect gift. Della thinks up the perfect thing for Jim: a chain for his prized heirloom pocket watch. And Jim, for Della: some pricey accessories for her gorgeous long hair. (It was written in a different time, ok?)

But being that they’re so very poor, no gift was to be had without a little creativity and a lot of sacrifice.

So Della cuts off her tresses and sells her hair, unbeknownst to Jim, and Jim… you guessed it… sells his pocket watch, to come up with the funds to buy a perfect Christmas gift for his beloved.

Thus… rendering the Christmas gift they are buying for each other… Completely useless.

But so very sweet and meaningful. And probably the best, most heartfelt and touching Christmas gifts Jim and Della would receive in a lifetime, and for sure the most memorable.

It was unfair though. They shouldn’t have had to do it, for Pete’s sake. Jim should have been able to keep his watch, and Della should have never had to lose her identity… Her signature… Her hair.

In a perfect world. If all was fair.

But that’s just love I guess. You give without expecting in return, sometimes something so very dear to you that it kinda hurts. But when it’s love you do it, because there is nothing more precious to you than each other.

At least that’s what we all dream of having.

I imagine Jim never regretted the loss of his grandfathers pocket watch, though it must have cut him to the quick to sell it… So great was his love for Della. And Della must have cringed the first few times she looked in the mirror and didn’t look quite like herself, because her beautiful hair was now short… But her love for Jim was greater than her love for her hair.

Some things you do for each other will come easily: I mean, if someone wanted me to promise I’d never wear Wranglers, smoke cigarettes or shop at Wal Mart, NOT. A. PROBLEM.

For the right person, I’d go beyond what came easily to give up some things I might even like. I’d be happy to never listen to a note of country music again, if that was the deal breaker. I’d never drink a drop of Diet Dr. Pepper ever again, if thats what it would take to make him happy. And I like those things!

Heck, if a guy made a big sacrifice for me, I’d give up my very, most favoritest things ever… Things that would hurt me. But only for the right person.
Chocolate!
Pedicures!
Shopping in Dallas with Marla! Oh… but that would hurt something awful…
Caramel Macchiatos! Blonde Highlights! My kids!

Just kidding, of course! I’d NEVER give up my blonde highlights for a man!

The point is, that’s what you do when it’s love. It ain’t fair, it often takes you out of your own comfort zone, and sometimes it hurts.

But it fuh sho’ beats being alone.

And I guess that’s the wisdom of of love and sacrifice.

The last paragraph of the short story reads like this:

The magi, as you know, were wise men–wonderfully wise men–who brought gifts to the Babe in the manger. They invented the art of giving Christmas presents. Being wise, their gifts were no doubt wise ones, possibly bearing the privilege of exchange in case of duplication. And here I have lamely related to you the uneventful chronicle of two foolish children in a flat who most unwisely sacrificed for each other the greatest treasures of their house. But in a last word to the wise of these days let it be said that of all who give gifts these two were the wisest. O all who give and receive gifts, such as they are wisest. Everywhere they are wisest. They are the magi.

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Comments

  1. MTaylor says

    April 7, 2011 at 7:34 pm

    Loved that. Never heard that story before.

    Reply

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About Me


Hey there... I'm Melissa! Texas girl. Mom to three + one goldendoodle. Believer. Old house fanatic. Creating a happy + healthy home with purpose is my passion. I'm so glad you're here!

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I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 I don’t know who’s big idea it was to strip 80 years of paint off of this door down to the wood and start over… but that person has no business starting new projects. 😅 My neighbors must have thought this project would never end. *I* thought this project would never end. 😰 If you’re thinking of doing this yourself? Just don’t, ok? Throw the whole door away and buy a new one. 😂🤣 Just kidding.  Old house weirdos like me… we can’t just do things the easy way. Anyhoo… after some trial and error, @sherwinwilliams Celestial is what I landed on, and I have to say… I like it. Periwinkle-ish blue looks great with the yellow house and will look even better when the azaleas are in bloom. Was it all worth it? That’s not important right now. 🤭 Will I do this all again in two years? The magic eight ball says… without a doubt. 👏🏻 I’ve already picked the next color. #gluttonforpunishment #somefoolsneverlearn #oldhouselove #oldhomelove #makinghome #southernliving #gardenandgun #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in Spring in the Azalea District makes the winters in an 80-year-old house completely worth it … what broken pipes, icy hardwood floors and drafty windows? 🤔 I forgot already. #comeonspring #azaleadistrict #tylertx
Happy Saturday ☀️ Happy Saturday ☀️
Salt Lake City is always magical ✨ Salt Lake City is always magical ✨
2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrollin 2022 had its highs and lows for sure, but scrolling through my pics from the last twelve months made me realize how blessed and content I am. Prosperity, love, and peace have been ours in abundance, in spite of the pain of losing my dad. The second picture is the last picture of him… the last time I saw him. 💔 But God has been good to my family this year and 2022 is ending far better than it began. 😄 #2022inreview #thanksforthememories
Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍ Who wants a Christmas tour of my home? 🙋🏼‍♀️
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That’s it. That’s the tour. (Slide two). 
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It’s a new trend I’m starting: bare Christmas tree. Lowe’s tag still attached (so quirky and unexpected)! Christmas ornaments still in boxes. Coming soon to an Anthropologie window display near you. 
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Every year I think, “next year I’ll do better. Next year I’ll have it together.” And then, here we are on the SIXTH Christmas that we’ve been in this house, the sixth Christmas I’ve dragged our chaotic bunch of Christmas mess out of a chaotic garage I still haven’t unpacked from our move six years ago. 
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Maybe this year is the year I’ll organize it all and put it back neatly so that by Christmas number 7, it will be smooth sailing. People will flock to my social media to see how I’ve pulled everything off SO PERFECTLY. Next year will be my year. 
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Seems every year there’s less and less bandwidth for all these things. There’s more grief and stress, less money. More demands, less grace. 
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I put this sign on the wall in my office so I could keep it in front of my eyes: Love. Joy. Peace. And all that. I am SO unlike Jesus most days. So lacking in all of these character qualities. And that’s WITH waking up most mornings and spending my first 30 minutes with God Himself. 
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How lost would I be without that? Geez. I can’t fathom. I REQUIRE being transformed by renewing my mind every single morning, and even then, responding to people and life with love, joy, peace and patience doesn’t come naturally. 
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It’s the goal, though. 
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This weary world needs that from us Believers during this season, more than ever… even more than an Anthropologie-window-display worthy Christmas home tour. 
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I’m working on both.
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