Gift of the Magi?

The Gift of the Magi is one of my favorite stories. The husband and the wife want so much to give a gift to each other that has a lot of thought behind it. Unfortunately, money is tight so they have to think of a unique way to be able to give the gift of the other's dreams. The husband wants to give a comb for the wife's hair which is long and beautiful. The wife wants to give a watch fob for the husband's pocket watch. What do they do? The husband sells the pocket watch so he can buy the comb. The wife sells her hair in order to buy the watch fob. It is a great expression of love. Each sells their most prized possession in order to get the other something. Each makes a sacrifice. I wonder in today's world of credit cards whether people are making that sacrifice. Sure, I can get my husband a fabulous gift but if I can't pay for it in the end, did I make a sacrifice? No not really. What did I do? I put our families financial future in jeopardy. It makes me think of my parents also. I remember growing up money was tight. We weren't poor but we weren't rich. So, Christmas time, my parents didn't buy each other lavish gifts. It wasn't until I was in high school that my parents started to make good money and it wasn't until I was in college that their gift of the magi moment. Both, called me individually. They couldn't wait to share with me what they bought for the other. My mom called and said"Guess what I bought your dad for Christmas? I decided to go all out." I couldn't guess. "A watch," she said. She was so excited. Then my dad calls, "Guess what I got your mom for Christmas?" Let me guess, I thought...a watch. Instead I said " I don't know." "I got her a watch," he said. I couldn't wait for that Christmas morning to see their face when they realized that they had bought for each other the same thing. It still makes me chuckle, and think a little about the gift of the magi and giving a gift in love.