What do you do when you receive a gift that is wrapped so exquisitely you are hesitant to open it because you will damage the art?

The joy and ingenuity that went into the wrapping of the gift is quite evident. The message: sweet and touching.

I still haven’t opened the gift because I hate to destroy the wrapping. No staples went into the wrapping of the gift. Just glue. So a sharp letter opener might work and eventually I will open it…. very carefully.

I will.

The child who gave me this gift is one of my art students. Art teachers are not on the top of the list when parents and children buy presents for their teachers. I have never felt entitled to gifts anyway. The joy of teaching the students about art is gift enough for me and when I receive the drawings and artwork that they eagerly bring to me when they come to class it’s like Christmas every day. I keep their art and display it. Then I put it in a student art scrapbook.

None of my students will ever see their artwork cast into the trash. But that’s just me. When I first began to teach art I didn’t like it very much at all. I didn’t have patience and that was a major frustration. But as the years have gone by I have grown into a teacher who appreciates the talents and gifts that each child brings.

The student who gave me the beautifully decorated home made package is a very uniquely talented and whimsical child. I know that the gift inside the package will be as delightful as the packaging.

The anticipation is delicious.

UPDATE:

What is the true gift of Christmas? The eternal gift that Jesus gave to all of us.