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My parents best Christmas gift to me.
I grew up in Denmark shortly after the Second World War. It took quite a few years before we got a TV when we finally did the world opened up to us. We were used to just listen to the news on the radio at least 3 times a day but now we could see it. We saw the reality of events in other countries. It was about the time when America was in so much turmoil.
On the news we saw pictures from the US about the black people’s fight for equality; living in a country where I had never seen people of other cultures and colours, I simply did not understand what the big deal was. The solution seemed so simple – let them go to school – let them go on the bus and sit where there was a seat – let them be where they wanted to be. My father and I talked a lot about it and he talked a lot about having respect for other people regardless of where they came from and how they looked. I agreed to some point – however I KNEW that red haired people had a bad temper and would beat you when they had a chance ( I had only had 2 beatings in school and they were both by the same little red haired little girl) so you understand why I drew this conclusion. I also remember my dad looking over his glasses and saying with a bit of a smile: “Are you sure you understood what we have been talking about?” after I told him about my theory of red haired girls.
I gather that my parents had some discussions about how to help me to understand a few fundamental things in life such as tolerance.
In Denmark we start to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. So that Christmas Eve my mother and father had decorated the tree and when I was called in to the living room, I saw this beautiful real tree with all the decorations and lit real candles and as always it was “the most beautiful tree I had ever seen”. However underneath the tree all the present were wrapped in brown and white plain paper but with different colour ribbons. It really did not look as festive as the usual Christmas wrapping. I guess I looked a little disappointed and after singing the hymns and carols my parents and I sat down and my father told me why the presents were wrapped this way.
His explanation was as follows. People dress differently so therefore we put different ribbons on the presents; it makes them look pretty and interesting. Now for the wrapping, look at it and see that there is brown and white. When you look at the boxes will you know from what you see what is inside? Will you know which one has more value than the other? My answer was: “of course not.”
My father then asked me: “how will you know?”
My answer: “If I un-wrap them and I will find out what is inside …” My dad answered: “just like with people, you have to look under the wrapping and you will know the true value and the true gift of the person”.
I thank my parents for this lesson and this was without a doubt the best gift they ever gave me.
Happy Thanks Giving
Copyright by Inge Frederiksen
On the news we saw pictures from the US about the black people’s fight for equality; living in a country where I had never seen people of other cultures and colours, I simply did not understand what the big deal was. The solution seemed so simple – let them go to school – let them go on the bus and sit where there was a seat – let them be where they wanted to be. My father and I talked a lot about it and he talked a lot about having respect for other people regardless of where they came from and how they looked. I agreed to some point – however I KNEW that red haired people had a bad temper and would beat you when they had a chance ( I had only had 2 beatings in school and they were both by the same little red haired little girl) so you understand why I drew this conclusion. I also remember my dad looking over his glasses and saying with a bit of a smile: “Are you sure you understood what we have been talking about?” after I told him about my theory of red haired girls.
I gather that my parents had some discussions about how to help me to understand a few fundamental things in life such as tolerance.
In Denmark we start to celebrate Christmas on Christmas Eve. So that Christmas Eve my mother and father had decorated the tree and when I was called in to the living room, I saw this beautiful real tree with all the decorations and lit real candles and as always it was “the most beautiful tree I had ever seen”. However underneath the tree all the present were wrapped in brown and white plain paper but with different colour ribbons. It really did not look as festive as the usual Christmas wrapping. I guess I looked a little disappointed and after singing the hymns and carols my parents and I sat down and my father told me why the presents were wrapped this way.
His explanation was as follows. People dress differently so therefore we put different ribbons on the presents; it makes them look pretty and interesting. Now for the wrapping, look at it and see that there is brown and white. When you look at the boxes will you know from what you see what is inside? Will you know which one has more value than the other? My answer was: “of course not.”
My father then asked me: “how will you know?”
My answer: “If I un-wrap them and I will find out what is inside …” My dad answered: “just like with people, you have to look under the wrapping and you will know the true value and the true gift of the person”.
I thank my parents for this lesson and this was without a doubt the best gift they ever gave me.
Happy Thanks Giving
Copyright by Inge Frederiksen
Comment
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Comment by Angelo on December 15, 2009 at 2:27pm - yeah that the best christmas ever my with ur family at this moment my mother is king of in another world she is not in her good senses she is losing it but still all good cause with Online Pharmacy now u can get ur medications against it .
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Comment by Joanna on November 22, 2008 at 11:44am - Beautiful story! What a wonderful gift your parents gave you. Thanks so much for sharing.
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Comment by Sammi on November 22, 2008 at 11:20am - What a beautiful story, thanks so much for sharing it with us.
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