Pastor Ken
Over the past few months, our son gave us gifts at different times, including a watch for me and an apron for my wife. We often told him not to give us anything anymore because we had everything. However, we must accept his gifts because our names are on them. They’re “personalized” gifts and can’t be returned.
When I was young, I received several gifts engraved with my name. An auntie gave me a ballpoint pen to congratulate me on graduating from high school. She was laid to rest earlier this year at the age of 97. Then there is this special small booklet bound with nine sheets of fabric. Each sheet was hand-embroidered, displaying the nine characters representing the “Fruit of the Holy Spirit” as mentioned in the Bible. It was a farewell gift from my fellowship group at church before my journey to the United States for academic pursuits. Each member of the group took part in the project and they put my name on the finished product.
Later, when I got married, my bride and I exchanged rings during our wedding ceremony. Despite our limited financial means at the time, we managed to acquire elegant golden bands.
As time passed, the intricate outer patterns on the rings faded, yet the engraved wedding date on the inside remains distinct and unaltered.
Regardless of the worth of these gifts, they all have sentimental value to us. What we remember is not solely the bond we shared during the gift-giving period, but also the enduring relationship we continue to cherish today. A personalized gift shows that the giver has put some thought into it. It carries a wish that this gift will always be cherished.
We all know that material things cannot last forever. As life goes on, things will be lost or broken. So do relationships. When we learn that our friends have taken different paths, personalized gifts may lose their meaning. I once received a little stuffed elephant. It was hand-sewn and embroidered, not with my name, but the giver’s name. After losing contact for many years, later I heard that she’d abandoned her husband and daughters, and even given up her Christian faith. I no longer kept that gift.
Sometimes, when visiting thrift stores, we will find jackets with company logos, as well as jerseys with player names. The clothes look brand new, probably because employees have left the company, or the players have graduated from school, and they no longer have a sense of belonging. Since they are personalized, my guess is that these clothes will remain on the hangers for a long time.
A personalized gift signifies a deeper connection between the giver and the receiver than a typical friendship. The funny thing is that when the relationship between the two parties has grown closer over the years, there is no need to give gifts anymore. A phone call, a greeting, or a hug will suffice to express mutual love and care. If we all keep our faith in Christianity and pray for each other, we will recognize the significance of the “communion of saints.”
