The Worst Best Christmas Present.
What’s the worst present you have ever received on Christmas?
Perhaps raisins from your grandma ever year. Maybe an orange in your stocking. Why is that a thing? Perhaps a hand-knitted itchy sweater with your initials etched in shiny thread, looking at you Ron Weasley. What about a package of underwear and socks? Personally that would make me happy, I love socks and always need more. Curse you Kenwood dryer monster for eating only one of my socks every time and parting him from his solemate forever. (Get it? SOLEmate. Don’t think too hard.)
I love wrapping presents and seeing them under the tree. I love surprises and the excitement that builds up to the moment I finally get to tear into those presents that took more time than necessary to wrap. Word of caution: glitter paper, don’t do it friends. I’m just kidding, if you’re favorite color is glitter like it is for me, have at it. It WILL remain on your person and on your floor and everywhere in between forever. It will also take forever to hot glue, yes hot glue, every fold of the paper.
I love tearing into those presents and discovering that I got exactly what I wanted. I like tearing into presents and discovering something that I did not ask for but am really excited about.
Then there is the unwanted presents at Christmas, “YOU WERE MY FRIEND AND YOU BETRAYED ME!” I did not want underwear mother. I wanted the Red Ryder carbine action, two-hundred shot, range model air rifle. I don’t care if I’ll shoot my eye out, it will make a good story and I will have fun doing it. I was so excited to open these presents and my moment is ruined.
Maybe you are like me and try to fake appreciation. “Aw thank you! You are so thoughtful. You knew what I wanted even when I didn’t know.” (NOT.) All the while your innards are raging and you plot revenge for next year.
How do you feel when you get one of these presents?
Unwrapping the unwanted presents is analogous to the World Race. These presents look great on the outside, well most of the time. Generally all you see about the World Race is the elephant riding, bungee jumping, beach laying, moto-riding, sushi eating, ruin-exploring, kid-twirling, laughter moments. All you see is the pretty presents under the tree. There are so many presents! I want them all! The World Race looks like a glorious adventure on Instagram.
What you don’t see often on the World Race is what is behind the picture, beneath the wrapping if you will.
You betrayed me World Race! This is not what I had in mind.
Sometimes moments after you take a picture with a laughing child, she throws a temper tantrum and you have to drag her to timeout.
Sometimes you eat a plate your host provided you. Then months later find eight-inch worms after you’ve done your business in the toilet. Sometimes your “toilet” is two wood slabs across a hole dug in the ground. You can actually see maggots swimming around hundreds of people’s excrements.
Sometimes I post a selfie on top of a mountain deep within the Amazon jungle. What is not seen is blistered feet, five day old clothing, and backpacks that feel twenty pounds heavier after a thirty mile hike.
Sometimes I just want to cry for no reason.
Sometimes I just want to drink the tap water without having to worry about amoebas.
Sometimes I just want a hot shower.
Sometimes I wish being alone meant something other than putting in headphones and facing a wall.
Sometimes I wish I could wear a tank top because it is 90 degrees outside, but I cannot because a woman showing her shoulders is immodest.
Sometimes I don’t want to “press into the pain,” or “work on becoming a better person,” or “make the right choice even though it is the hard choice.”
The World Race is not all glitter and ribbons. The World Race is not all carefree smiles and liberating adventure.
Sometimes the World Race is the unwanted Christmas present. But what I have found is that most of the time that present although not what I wanted, is what I needed. My mum knew I was down to three and a half pair of unmatched socks. God knows that I need to cry so he can fill me up with joy. God knows that I need a freezing shower so that I can learn gratefulness. God knows that I’ll learn patience after having to stick a screaming child in timeout.
I am slowly learning how to appreciate unwanted gifts. I am slowly learning how to appreciate every day God has given me. It is like Master Oogway said, “Quit, don’t quit? Noodles, don’t noodles? You are too concerned about what was and what will be. There is a saying: yesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, but today is a gift. That is why it is called the ‘present.”
Each day is a present. I appreciate my Red Rider BB gun days on the race but I appreciate my underwear and sock days too. God knows I need them.
P.S. I have $3000 more to raise and my deadline has past! I would like to be able to experience the rest of my World Race ‘presents’. Would you partner with me via a tax-deductible gift? Click “support me” at the top of my blog!
