This is an interesting story that I’d like to share. With all the “coincidences” recently happening in my life, it’s hard to see this as just a funny story. It REALLY seems like the Hand of God trying to send a message to somebody – or several somebodies.
For the past several years, my family and I have spent Christmas Eve with the family of a neighbor and friend. Instead of buying separate gifts for everyone, they turn gift giving into a game. Everyone brings a gift, wrapped, but unaddressed. Each person selects a random package, in sequence, and opens their package. (The rules are a little more complicated, making the game more interesting, but for this story, that is irrelevant).
My neighbor and his immediate family (wife and children) are Trump supporting conservatives. We were joined this year by his three siblings who are NOT Trump supporters. One, whom I have known for several years, is a moderate. One, living in California, is a Liberal. The third is politically somewhere between those two.
When my friend told me his liberal relatives would all be at the Christmas Eve dinner and Gift Exchange (aka “The Game”), I asked if I should wear a Trump shirt and hat. He laughed and said he wanted to avoid any controversy. I can live with that – especially for Christmas.
But, I made one BIG mistake. I forgot to prepare for the Gift Exchange. I didn’t buy any gift for The Game. The negligence suddenly popped to the forefront of my thoughts while I was at an afternoon Christmas Eve Church Service. In a panic, I sent an embarrassed text message to my friend. After the Service, I dropped by my friend’s house to try an decide what to do. Should I skip the party? Should I eat dinner and leave early? My friend, never judgmental and always accommodating, suggested I go home and look for a gift to contribute to The Game. With only an hour to go, I went home and scratched my head.
This is when the story starts to get “interesting.”
I tried to think of anything I had recently bought that would make a decent general gift to anyone of any age. I came up empty. Then, the DREADED idea of “re-gifting” popped into my head. I found a few gifts that my family had received, but did not really want or need. Then, I noticed a “Florida for Trump” T shirt and a “DeSantis flag” T shirt that I had recently made for sale. So, with those few, meager, unplanned gifts, I prepared for the party.
On the way out the door, I got my Christmas hat. It has nothing to do with Christmas, but I had received it as a gift at a Christmas party the prior week. Normally, I would have worn a Santa hat. This Christmas hat was very different. It is bright white with stars and stripes on the brim, and says “America First” in big letters. HONESTLY, I was NOT trying to antagonize The Liberal. I thought, “I’ll just take off the hat as soon as I get in the door, and nobody will notice.”
We got in the car and drove to the neighbor’s house.
We entered through the garage and laundry room, as always. The FIRST person who saw me was The Liberal, the sister of my friend, whom I had never seen nor met before. She smiled, then saw the hat, and her face went pale – staring in shock at the words, “America First.” She was speechless. I have no idea what went through her mind.
For the next hour, everyone mingles, eats snacks, and then lines up for the buffet dinner. I have still not spoken with The Liberal.
After everyone finishes dinner, we go to the living room to play the Gift Exchange game. A lot of laughter and sarcasm. Some nice gifts. (We ended up with a Bluetooth speaker which lists for $80 retail).
As we are nearing the end of the Gift Exchange, The Liberal has her turn to pick a gift. There are 23 people in the Gift Exchange game, and none of the first 15 or so have picked either the DeSantis shirt or the Trump shirt. I’m the only person who knows I wrapped these two shirts. I was expecting one of the many Trump supporters in the room would have, by chance, picked the package with one of these shirts. The Liberal slowly circles the group of anonymously wrapped packages, trying to make a choice. I’m thinking, “No. She can’t POSSIBLY be the one person out of 22 to select the Trump shirt.” I honestly could not remember which package had the Trump shirt and which the DeSantis shirt. But, either way, I KNEW this would be “interesting.”
On opening the Trump shirt, it was clear to ALL that she despised it. But, surprisingly, she was a good sport about it, saying, “I wish there were a fire in the fireplace.” Everyone had a good laugh.
But, wait, there’s more . . .
Husband of The Liberal was next to select his gift. By now you might guess: HE selected the anonymous package with the DeSantis shirt. It was almost too much for me to keep a straight face. Probably HALF the people in the room KNEW those two shirts came from me. NOBODY let the cat out of the bag.
So, here’s the “moral” of the story, if I can call it that:
This family CANNOT talk about politics because of the EXTREME difference of opinion. Lucky that they can still maintain the family relationships. But, this little incident FORCED them to confront the issue of that extreme difference of opinion WITHOUT any judgment or hostility. THAT is the beginning of the healing and coming together.
(I forgot to mention that The Liberal and her husband live in Los Angeles and are connected with Hollywood).
I wonder what the long term effect of this small event will be on these individuals and on this family. I know that they did discuss the Trump shirt the following day.
I SINCERELY believe that it WAS the Hand of God doing SOMETHING here. I was just “the vessel.” And I am ALWAYS glad to play that part.
(Before leaving, I had a long conversation with The Husband, and a brief conversation with The Liberal. While not friends, we parted on good terms, with them still not knowing that the two shirts they hated came from me).
BE THE VESSEL.
Don’t be afraid to share your beliefs in Christ, America, Trump, our Constitution and good moral values. Leftists MUST know that REAL PEOPLE hold these beliefs for good reason. We have to let them know that not everyone is brainwashed by the Leftist Propaganda in schools and the media. The brainwashing can only be overcome by repetition of OUR values.
P.S. If you have any generosity left after YOUR holiday gifting, give a thought to one of my favorite charities. We did not reach our goal before Christmas, so I’m giving it another shot.
A Christmas Miracle?
Great story, Tom! Many of us have experienced the drama with family when opposing views arise. It is all about uniting, love and acceptance...on both sides. I pray we get there. Happy New Year!