The "Presents" Entry

Growing up, my favourite part of Christmas was opening presents.

My mum followed the rules to a T. All our presents were wrapped and placed under the tree for weeks, sometimes even longer. We were only allowed to open them on Boxing Day.

It was taxing at times, having to wait so long to see what we’d gotten—seeing the presents but being unable to touch them until a specific day and time.

Still, I remember the joy that filled me and my brothers’ hearts on Boxing Day when we finally got to open our gifts.

It was so exciting to tear off the wrapping paper and unravel our toys and games. By the time we finally saw our gifts, all the waiting and wishing for Boxing Day to come sooner seemed forgotten.

I remember once when we kept voicing our impatience, my mum replied, “Just wait. The presents are yours—you’ll get them eventually.”

This Christmas, I’m reminded of the anxiety of waiting to open gifts. But it’s no longer about presents—it’s about life.

It’s funny how, as adults, we outgrow the magic of childhood—the faith we once had—but we don’t outgrow the apprehensions. If anything, they become more pronounced.

One lesson I’ve learned over and over in the past two years is this: you have to wait.

Every day you push yourself to learn and grow, it’s like wrapping up a present for yourself and placing it under the tree.

There will come a time when the rewards of your hard work will show. Not immediately, but definitely.

The problem is, even as adults, we still act like children. We want to open our gifts before Boxing Day.

We expect to sow today and reap tomorrow.

And when the harvest doesn’t come quickly, we get frustrated. We give up. We throw tantrums.

Let me tell you what my mum told me all those years ago:

Everything you sow is for you. Every present you wrap is yours. It’s simply waiting for the right time to be opened.

If you sow peace, you’ll reap peace on your Boxing Day. If you sow hard work, you’ll reap rewards. If you sow personal development, you’ll reap personal success.

But you have to wait. You just have to.

Don’t give up along the way because you can’t see the rewards yet. Don’t be discouraged when you see others enjoying their harvest while you’re still waiting. You don’t know how long ago their gifts were wrapped.

Our seasons are not the same. The sooner you understand this, the fewer tantrums you’ll throw about not being able to unwrap your presents yet.

What can you do while you wait?

Keep wrapping!

Think of it this way: the more you sow, the more you reap.

The more presents you wrap, the more you’ll get to open on your Boxing Day.

So don’t wrap one good deed and then sit back, watching and waiting for your rewards. Keep going!

BOOK I AM READING THIS WEEK: This week, I’m in the mood for a bit of mystery. I’m reading And Then There Were None by Agatha Christie.

Have an amazing week🤗

See you next Sunday!

Your trusty growth partner,

Dee❤️