The lost present
The present arrived when I was very young. It was beautifully wrapped—perfect paper, tidy corners, and a matching bow tied elegantly. It was placed near me for all to see. But it was not opened. There wasn’t a tag indicating who the giver was. It was a mystery, yet no one seemed to care.
As I got older, I wondered about the unopened present. Where was it, and what was inside? I thought it was among things that didn’t have a proper place, sitting in the attic away from other piles of stuff—forgotten, abandoned, and neglected. No one seemed to remember or care enough to find it.
Over the years, I occasionally saw the present reappear. There was excitement whenever it was brought out. But most of us would simply marvel at it and wonder how it was still around, considering how much time had passed. I remember once when the ribbon was untied, but no further effort was made to open the present. Soon after, it was packed up and put away again; it seemed the present was once more lost.
There was one year I had been thinking about it, believing it was lost forever. I thought, if it were found, the paper would probably be torn, dirty, and maybe even crushed. Whatever was inside was likely broken or outdated. I was pretty shocked when I found it under the cloth next to where I was sitting. I started to cry, wondering how I could have gone so long without caring enough to open it and enjoy its contents. I felt so bad for whoever sent it because I really just ignored their charity and love in sending me the present. Still, I was happy to have it back in my hands. I turned it over and over and noticed it was still in perfect condition, as if it had just been given.
However, I couldn’t bring myself to open the present. I was afraid the gift might be damaged, now useless after all this time, and not worth the trouble of unwrapping it from its beautiful packaging. It was easier to just look at it, set it down, and go about my day.
I kept the present for over eighteen months before I finally had the courage to open it. When I did, I wasn’t disappointed; the beauty inside far outweighed what I saw on the outside. It consumed me, and I’ve kept it close ever since.
This present has provided me with so much that I’d need a book to write it all down. I wish I had opened it up all those years ago.
Can you guess what my present is?