April 2, 2008

• Sophia's 2nd Birthday Present

  I knew her parents were gonna strangle me for getting her that gift, but I had to do it.  Although it could easily be viewed as a parents' nightmare, it was a step of faith.  Let me share a story first before I continue on:

  A farming town was experiencing a major drought, and the local farms and businesses were suffering as a result of it, so the council held a meeting in order to find solutions to address the problem.  Some thought shipping water in was a solution, others thought damming a river was another.  Finally the town preacher suggested that the town meet the following day to pray for rain.  The town laughed until the mayor agreed to try it first but added that the townspeople were to bring their item of faith with them.  So the following morning the townsfolks came to the city center along with their crucifixes, family Bibles, lucky dices, rabbits foot, 4 leaf clovers, ect.  They prayed and waited for a week.  They met again bringing their items w/them until the town preacher stopped them.  "I know why our prayers didn't work last week and why it won't work now," he said.  "The Mayor asked you to bring along with you an item of faith, and none of you did."  The townsfolks was baffled at the comment, but the preacher continued: "not one of you brought with you an umbrella or a raincoat." 

  So Sophia's mom was ready to strangle me when I gave Sophia her baby drum for her birthday.  Its cute to see a 2 year old banging away making a lot of noise.  It's annoying to the parents, that I know.  It all seems more than mischieveous if you knew the entire situation.  My friend, Sophia's mom is battling breast cancer and is scheduled for surgery next week, so giving her own daughter a tool to annoy the parents would be considered inconsiderate.  Naturally, my friend asked me why of all things to give to her daughter such a gift and my response was the story of the drought.  Then, I challenged my friend that if she wanted to get even with me for giving Sophia such a gift, she must "RETURN THE FAVOR."  I simply challenged my friend to get even with me.  "Now YOU have to wait until my firstborn turns 2, THEN you could give him/her that drum to annoy me and their mom."

  Not only did Sophia received a drum as a present for her 2nd birthday, it "doubles" as an "umbrella" for her mother as she battles the storm or breast cancer.  It takes a lot of faith to not only get the gift, but to also posed her the challenge because my friend is under enough pressure as is already obviously.  And believe me, my friend has a right to be concerned not because of her health situation, but also because of my situation: a) I'm not married yet. b) I don't have any kids. c) Not only am I not married, I'm not even dating anyone right now.  So the real question is, who's umbrella is this actually? 

  BOTH

  My friend countered the challenge because of my situation.  She lives and survives, she WILL attend my wedding, be there when my first child is born, and when that kid turns 2, return the drum so my wife and I will be annoyed for never ending nights.  So I'd BETTER find that right someone soon, and I agreed with her and we shook on it. 

  Just wait til I bring a DVD of Singing in the Rain with me when I visit her during her recovery phase...

  

  • 4:00 am
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