My Birthday Gifts for My Son

My son's birthday was a month ago, and the birthday gifts that I could give were my time and attention plus some special food that my wife prepared. It was a very happy birthday for him.

We all simply stayed home on his birthday, had chicken for lunch and ice cream at mid-afternoon. In the evening, it was even more special. There was the usual dinner, plus chocolate cake.  We also sang the usual Happy Birthday song.

After dinner I asked him what DVD he liked to watch, and I would watch it with him. He chose Passion of the Christ. Up to this time I didn't know why of all the kiddie movies available, he chose that!

As the movie went, he asked a lot of questions; and I answered them as simply as I could. It was not easy for a Daddy to explain the violence and rejections in the world out there, especially betrayal of friends. It was most difficult to answer why, in that movie, Judas killed himself!

Anyhow, my son listened and sounded satisfied. He was seated securely on the lap of his Daddy.

For the time and attention my son had from me on his birthday he celebrated gleefully much more than he celebrated for the ice cream, the chicken, and the chocolate cake.

Soon we finished the movie, then it was time for him to sleep. He had a very happy birthday. The birthday gifts from his Daddy made his day.

The Daddy? It was time to think about work and making money again.

It was heart-breaking that indeed time and attention didn't come cheap, even from a supposedly devoted father that I claimed to be. Spending time and attention to my son were indeed, to him, were precious birthday gifts from his Daddy.