We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.
–Winston Churchill
Moving into the season of giving. And receiving. I might be wrong, but it feels like when you’re an adult you focus on the giving part. That’s been my experience, at least.
But for a kid it’s the receiving part of the equation that stands out. Undoubtedly, many of us have memories of tearing into neatly wrapped packages on Christmas morning. Our minds were reeling with giddy expectation that our greatest desires were contained within it. It could be the perfect toy that would make us whole, that would make our drab kid lives worthwhile and exciting like those smiling, happy brats we envied on the TV ads as they played with the toy.
But shredding the wrapping reveals only a pair of socks. Dress socks.
Plain yellow dress socks. A sickly pale yellow, the color of jaundice, and for a kid, just as desirable.
I had that experience many times as kid and remember feeling disappointed at the time. But I also remember telling myself that the grandmother or aunt that gave me these things were not well-to-do and were buying gifts for many other kids in the family.
Sure, a new bike would have been great but even with those sick yellow socks, I sometimes felt like I was lucky to be included at all.
And ultimately, these socks were worn. Inside of my snow boots where they were out of sight.
I know I didn’t show the appreciation then that I have now for those gifts. I wish I could go back to tell my grandma or aunt how much I appreciated the thought, that they were great socks and I couldn’t wait to put them on.
Maybe they knew that someday I might feel a little more gratitude and that was enough for them then.
I don’t know. Hope so.
That brings us to this week’s Sunday Morning Music which is, of course, named Socks. It’s from JD McPherson’s Christmas themed album of the same title from a few years back. I enjoyed many of the songs from that album and played this song back then. Thought I might regift it to you this morning.
If you don’t like it, you can do the same…
Redtree Times 
We would receive those gifts tgat we don’t actually, want, but, we, for the sake of, courtesy still, say, “thank you”, because, we don’t want to be, rude…
Great music, thanks! I’m not one generally for Christmas songs, but this one is sour enough for my liking😀
Perhaps the only thing sadder than being unable to give is being unwilling to receive. A gift isn’t a gift until it’s accepted, and the giver’s pleasure isn’t full until that reception takes place — that’s what I think, anyway.
That’s a really good point, Linda. I have had that happen and it does feel like a bit of a slap in the face, as though they don’t really trust me and that they will somehow owe me something if they accept. Knowing this now, I accept gifts without fuss or hesitancy and give gifts with no strings attached at all.