Friday, Dec 26, 2025 at 9:43 AM

Unexpected Strengths Emerging

So today I was awaiting a delivery of a cold plunge cooler. Since the Salmon are arriving in the stream by my house, I want to leave them as undisturbed as possible.

So as I was prepping for the delivery, I had this idea, “What if I were to give the delivery driver a gift for his kid?” So I thought of offering a little crystal dragon I’d got for Christmas. Then I thought, “ooh wouldn’t it be nice to give cookies as well?”

Well, the only cookies that were available were ones specifically made to accommodate my son’s food restrictions. But we’re still super tasty!

So I asked him if he was open to sharing with the delivery driver. He said yes, and we agreed that he’d give them to him when the driver arrived.

So when the delivery came and dropped off the cold plunge cooler, I’d asked if the driver has kids he said “yes a 23yr old and a 25yr old”

“Are either of them into crystal dragons?” I asked.

He responded with a warm smile, “no”

He was about to leave as my boy was coming from his room, “Hold on a sec, my boy has something he’d like to give you”

As my boy came up and gave the man his prized homemade just for him cookies, the man smiled very warmly and said, “thank you, what’s your name?” “I’m James”
“Well thank you James” was his reply as he walked back to his delivery truck with a less hurried, more peaceful pace then when he’d arrived.

“Didn’t that feel good to offer something, a gift to someone? To do something for someone without expecting anything from them in return? Just doing it because you want to do something good?”

“Yeah” was his reply with a seemingly deeper understanding of gifts.

Then my eldest son and I got to talk about the principle of how it’s better to give than only receive. And how both are important, because if people are only giving than there is a lack of opportunities for people to receive.

We also discussed how it feels when we do things for others just with the positive intent to offer something of value. And how good it feels. Also how he is feeling having done something good for another.

My son could’ve said no to offering his prized cookies. He was perfectly within his right to do so, they were his after all.

It warms my heart that he chose thinking of someone else over hoarding it all for himself.

I love watching my boy grow into the man I hope and pray he’ll become.