“Someone I loved once gave me a box full of darkness. It took me years to understand that this too, was a gift.” Mary Oliver
A young man about to finish his law degree, had been asking his father for a car as a graduation present for many months. When graduation day came, the young man’s father called him into the study. The father handed him a wrapped gift and congratulated his son.
Looking disappointed, the son opened the gift to find a lovely, leather-bound journal with the young mans name embossed on the cover. The son angrily raised his voice, threw down the journal and stormed out.
Many years past and the young man did not see his Father. He became successful and wealthy like his father, with a beautiful home and family. He came to realize that his father was aging and it was now time to put the past behind him.
Just as he decided this, he received a call from a family member telling him that his father had passed away and that he needed to return home to take care of the estate.
As the son regretfully returned home, he began searching through his father’s important papers and saw the still new journal, just as he had left it.
He opened it and as he flipped through the pages, a car key dropped from the back of the journal.
A dealer tag was attached to the key that read, “Paid in full.” His Father also wrote. “Wherever this car takes you, write about it and remember it forever, Love Dad.”
Without a doubt, life doesn’t always meet our expectations or unfold the way we planned it. However, when this happens in my own life, I know I have two ways of dealing with it.
1. Resisting and fighting against what is, and what I wanted.
2. Accepting this moment and trusting that my life is unfolding exactly as it should. From here, I stay in that place long enough to learn what it wants to teach me. Long enough to find the gift.. and from this place, I realize, I have what I need.
LIVING IN THIS MOMENT 
What a punchline – wow! Yes, there are gifts in all situations. The silver linings can be the most important parts of our life.
It’s a good reminder Eliza! Being patient to find these gifts, is the key. Thank you 🎄💕
Grateful for this post. Every day seems to be another lesson, but as the zen saying goes “chop wood, carry water”.
Sometimes it feels like that’s all we do. Chop wood carry water, but there is always change around the corner. Thank you 💕💚
Again thanks. I agree and feel that “chopping wood and carrying water” is the way to pay attention to the moment.
Wow. What a story. And so love your lead in.
Thanks Dave, Mary Oliver always leads us to the truth. 🌈
Wonderful story, thank you! Accepting the moment as it is.
That’s it! Thank you 💕
Love the Mary Oliver quote. There are many gifts in difficulties that we don’t see until looking back some time later. Enter the trust part. That was a sad story, Karen. I feel for him having to live with the guilt. On the other hand, seeing in the end how much his father loved him was a gift. Bitter/sweet.
Often it is bitter sweet, Mary, but hopefully we learn the lesson so we don’t have it repeated. 💕💕
Wonderful poem and story. Powerful. Thank you. 💕
Thank you Carrie. 💕💚
powerful twist
I felt the same. Thank you Beth 💚
thinking deeply on this one. so many layers.
There is. Thank you Debi 💚💕
my pleasure 🙂
i’m open
to receiving
such a book, dear Karen 🙂
Me too David. 🍀😀
A beautiful reminder that not all gifts are what they seem and if we don’t have patience and hope we can’t see the real gift. I’m glad this young man saw the gift he should have has but also the depth of his father’s love reach out to touch him so many years later.
xxxx Huge Hugs xxxx
Thank you David. Your comment is very true. 🙏🏻
This post resonates deeply, Karen. Today is my mother’s 80th birthday, and to say we have struggled from time to time is an understatement. But lately I have been working hard to focus on the gifts she has given me, rather than the obstacles she has thrown in my path. Grateful I have the chance while she is still with us….
A beautiful example Lori. And your honesty describes a relationship that many have experienced growing up. It’s not an easy path to find the gift and yet, when we focus differently, as you have, you find strength, courage, compassion and resilience and I see that gift clearly in you Lori. 💕💚
Awww, thank you, Karen! Your kind words warm my heart….
Thank you for sharing this unexpected gift today Karen. This can be one tough lesson to learn 💛
I agree Val. It can be difficult to see the gift when we are in pain, but I believe it’s always there. Thank you my friend 💕
One of my favorite Mary Oliver quotes:). And I truly believe it. Without the darkness, our light is tenuous at best because it is untested.
Yes so true Kristine. Unfortunately we need both 💚💕
I do relate with this story. Life always has something to offer us, that we sooner or later appreciate for what it is.
That’s right, and it’s a practice for us all to seek it. Thank you 💕💚
Thank you for this great post !
💕💚🙏🏻
This was beautiful. Thank you.
I appreciate your comment Renae 💚
(… it looks like there’s no other recent post… just wondering … as I noticed many have issues with WP deleting or not updating their sites…)
🤗
Thanks Im not having any trouble that I know of 💚
Look forward to your next writing then! 🤗🤗🤗🤗🌹
A deeply touching and meaningful story, Karen. It made me wonder how many gifts we throw away without taking time to see their true value.
So true Carol. I can see I have done that too. Thank you 💕🌈
What a story! But there are some moments in life that are so difficult to accept that the gift they may be bringing will not be found for a long time. Something to ponder. Thank you, Karen.
Oh yes, so true Helen. It took me many years to see that after our son’s death and it’s not something you can expect others too see either. 💕
All the blogs I visit this evening offer the same message as you’ve given.
Thanks ❤
Beautiful. Thank you MK 🙏🏻💕
nice…
Thank you 🙏🏻
Wow, HG that is truly a powerful lesson, thanks for sharing it precious one!
It is a great story. Thank you 💕💚
Great story and the equally important points you make about patience, Karen. Could save many, unnecessary pains.
When one first seeks humility, then love will truly be full of surprises.
-Alan
Yes very true Alan. Thank you 🌈
Such a mesmerizing read.. indeed a great post. Please keep it up.
I have written a few poems. Please do give some of them a read.. I hope you will like them. 😀
Thank you! I will definitely check your poems out 🌈🙏🏻
Thank you.. I hope you will like them 😃
That’s was an amazing story and beautiful post!
Thank you! I appreciate your comment 🌈
🙂 Don’t appreciate my typo please xd
Yes I also know the gift of darkness. It is not only darkness we receive many hidden gifts like that in life, and it’s up to us to take them as challenges and overcome them and move on to the next level. Thank you for your wise words. Much Love and Light from me 🙂 ❤
Thank you Deepa 💕🌈💕
Such an emotional story 💕
Yes so true. Thank you 💕🌈
Great post and. He got a real gift
He did. Thank you 😀