Monday, December 11, 2017

An Element of Surprise

Photo: Pixabay
When it comes to surprises at Christmas time, there is a very fine line between that deep longing to know what you're getting for Christmas and not really wanting to know ahead of time. My youngest sister as a little girl caught a glimpse of her 'main' present one year when shopping bags were being brought in from the car. She knew it was her gift and remembers, to this day, that was the worst Christmas ever because the surprise was ruined.

We've probably heard those stories of children who have opened up their presents ahead of time and then realized their impulsive, impatient action spoiled the rest of Christmas for them. Maybe you were one of them; as for me, I was not, but it wasn't for yearning to know too. I was a snoopy kid and was known growing up as the child who invariably had her head under the tree, sizing up the presents that began slowly appearing days before Christmas. And, oh yes, my little sister and I remember searching the house over some years for hidden presents. But, there was something different from finding the hiding place to actually opening the parcels and bags to peek in. We would stop just short of finding out.

My aunt from Vancouver used to send parcels for us in December. Of course, when they arrived Mom would not let us see the presents, no matter how we contrived to sneak peeks over her shoulder. Thankfully, she recognized the value of the surprise and they'd be whisked out of sight before you could blink, wink or nod. And, even though we groaned, secretly we knew deep down inside we didn't really want to know. But there was something exquisite about the anticipating as we pondered the thrilling possibilities of what arrived all the way from Vancouver.

Then there was the time when little sis and I were up to no good one day shortly before Christmas. I wonder, did we plan ahead or just take advantage of the situation? With Mom gone into town, probably for last minute grocery shopping, and Dad perhaps outside working in the barn, we had free range in the empty house, and, yes, we took advantage of it.

We decided where we should start first, upstairs in the cold rooms where no one slept, in the stairwell where chocolates and fudge candies were 'secretly' nestled in paper bags. We were always told not to go in there, that was for Christmas, but with no one to know any different, we opened paper bags, sniffed the sweetness that drifted out, and then closed them as carefully as we opened them. We never ate one ahead of time (that just seemed too disobedient for that time of year ... or maybe our memory fudges on us). Remembering what we were scouting for, we'd carry on looking for presents that might be squirreled high up in closets or under beds, behind doors, maybe even down in the basement.

Ah, that year we found the stash in Mom's bedroom closet. Behind the winter coats, and up on the shelf above the rack. Oh rats, we'd need to haul in a chair now. Carefully, carefully, we didn't want to get caught in case Dad came in, we examined the already-wrapped presents hoping for a clue of which one belonged to who. We shook and gently squeezed, longing so much to know the contents but in the end holding back, because deep down we didn't want the surprise ruined. That would have been awful. So we put the packages back where we found them. Closed the closet door. Put the chair back and tried to look all innocent and calm when Mom came home, all the while wishing Christmas could hurry up already.

* * *

What is it about the surprises at Christmas that makes a person remember those trembling moments with joy and delight? I believe the 'thing' that makes Christmas so special is that we are actually wired to like surprises. Yes, according to research of the brain, we now know that our brains are created to enjoy new things to learn, discover, experience. It's good for us.

Someone tells us, Close your eyes, I have a surprise for you, and we obediently close our eyes, smiling, maybe even feeling a little giddy at what it could be. And, when someone unexpectedly sends us flowers or gives us a box of our favourite chocolate, we do love the surprise of it, don't we? It's not the same buying it for ourselves, for the element of surprise makes our brains happy. According to one article on Splinter, a news and opinion site, "being surprised activates the pleasure centers in our brain and gives us a nice shot of dopamine, which makes experiences more enjoyable." In the article, Science explains why surprise brings us pleasure, author Taryn Hillin goes on to say, "Studies have shown that surprise is your brain's way of alerting you to pay attention, which in turn activates curiosity, excitement, and wonder."

We don't have to wonder anymore why people like surprises -- we've been designed that way and Christmas is such a perfect time of year to take advantage of it. There is something wonderful about packages under the Christmas tree. I think most of us love to prepare these surprises, taking great care to hide them away, whispering and whisking packages out of sight. Waiting for the moment when the surprise is opened and eyes light up. We all wait for that moment, both as givers and as receivers. We tend to do all we can to ensure all remains a secret until that last moment when ribbons and tissue fall away and the item is beheld in all its splendour.


Photo: Pixabay

"There is no surprise more magical
than the surprise of being loved:
It is God's finger on man's shoulder."

~ Charles Morgan, 1894 - 1958,
English playwright and novelist


And that, my beautiful friends, is what what every gift we give and receive is about. Every time we receive a gift of any kind it comes with the surprise that we are loved. For, even when we know we are loved, at some level it still ministers to some deep longing or need to hear it again: You I notice, You I cherish.


Here's wishing you surprises in unexpected places this holiday season,

Hugs,
Brenda
xox





16 comments:

  1. Beautifully said, Brenda! I remember finding a gift just once and how it ruined the surprise on Christmas morning. I really like the way you tied surprises to love. Once, I was very discouraged about a situation, and we had to speak at a church that evening. We were staying with my parents and they knew of our discouragement. The event turned out far, far better than expected and we were amazed at God`s goodness. My dad told me the next day that he had prayed that God would surprise us. Now I pray that for others who are discouraged.
    Thank you for this wonderful post to start a busy week.

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    1. Lorrie,

      That's lovely! I'm going to do this too!

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    2. Have prayed that little prayer too for others, Lorrie! It's a very special prayer.

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    3. Well, Lorrie, you managed to surprise me! What a wonderful prayer that one is. Hope that I remember it...

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  2. I do love to give gifts and surprise people! And I love to receive gifts and surprises! It does make a person feel loved, and yes, the best love is God's love. Given as a gift!

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  3. Brenda - what a lovely post. I remember a Christmas as well that I discovered a Christmas present before Christmas. Somehow it was not the same. :(! Yes the greatest gift/surprise is someone does love you! Thanks for sharing. Hugs!

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  4. Brenda it might surprise you that sometimes MOM knew that someone had been snooping!, Very good memories for me to hear!

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    1. I'm sure... little kids aren't as careful as they think!

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  5. This is a lovely read. I do think you and your sister are very nearly perfect. 😊 My sister and I, on the other hand, had the joy of surprise twice. LOL!

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  6. This post brings up several memories of surprises and intended surprises in my psst...including the time my younger sister unintentionally told me what was in the large box with my name on it under the tree and the time when my brother and I discovered our new bicycles awaiting their reveal sitting in the coal room of the old parsonage in which we lived...

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  7. oh this brings so many memories. I enjoyed reading your post

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  8. Brenda, thanks for sharing those memories. I remember seeing a sweater one year but not thinking it was going to be mine. One Christmas day it was! I wore it for many years. It is better to keep the surprise til Christmas Day. Sylvia D.

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  9. Your post brought back so many Christmas memories of my sisters and I searching too. I could picture you and your sister, probably heart in your throat, climbing a chair to guess what could be in those packages. And I had no idea that surprises are actually good for you, must remember that and plan some for loved ones more often.

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  10. my mom hid presents in the trunk of the car but i do remember finding others hide in closets and peeking inside, wreaking the surprise!

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  11. Ah Brenda, I am always late to read your post. But, it is because I wait until I can read them twice. I read the first time for enjoyment and the second time to catch every drop of meaning in your words. Truly, I hang onto every word and I am never disappointed.

    Love this post Brenda, your ending words and the words of Charles Morgan. Wishing you and those you love, a very Merry Christmas!

    As an only child, I didn't have anyone to go snooping with. I was always so captured with the tree and what my sweet mom was doing in the kitchen. But, I do remember wondering what may be in the packages. Funny, I think I am far more interested in them today, than I was as a child.

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  12. I remember those feelings from childhood, and I didn't want to know ahead of time. It was enough to just sit and look at all the pretty packages and wonder what was inside. I don't get that feeling so much these days since my parents are gone (no siblings). Mom did such wonderful packages, really overdoing the gifting, but giving was her love language. Miss them both!

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To My Beautiful Readers,

Some people come into our lives, leave footprints on our hearts, and we are never the same. ~ Franz Peter Schubert

Thank you so much for leaving your 'footprint' here in my comment box. I do appreciate you taking a moment to share your thoughts today.

Brenda xo