Today, as we celebrate fathers, I would like to pay tribute to my own dad, George McGuire, who was the inspiration behind the thought and care that goes into every gift that comes out of The Surprise Inside.
Dad took an active interest in others, and was a naturally curious person. He engaged other people because he truly wanted to learn something about them. By knowing others, he was able to put a lot of thought into the gifts that he gave, and he loved that. He relished the challenge of coming up with a gift that would be just right for the recipient, the one that would elicit a great reaction. He loved to see the look of joy, excitement, surprise, and wonder as people opened their gifts. He took the time to know people, or if he did not know them, to think about what would genuinely make the person happy. It is not as if my father had all the time or money in the world to shop, either. That makes what he did even more meaningful. This was just something he chose to make a priority in his life. It went beyond generosity of a material kind to a generosity of spirit.
The impact of my father's gift giving ability was that people felt cared about. Even the smallest gesture to a stranger made an impression, because it was always done with a sense of purpose and meaning.
I can remember so many of the gifts and notes that were given to me over the years by my dad, because they were so thoughtful. His were always the most anticipated gifts at Christmas, not because of the monetary value, but because of the anticipation of "what will he think of next?" The real lesson from my dad was not how big or small, expensive or inexpensive the gift was, but how much thought was put into it. Giving a thoughtful gift can be a very daunting prospect for many people, which is why most don't even try - they go for what is easiest or most convenient. My hope is to honor and continue the tradition started by my father by helping people to do the same.
On Valentine's Day 2002, he gave me what I now consider the most meaningful and cherished of all the gifts over the years. It was a Valentine's Day card which read on the outside "Your friendship is good for my heart and my soul". On the inside, he wrote "You have become so much more than a daughter. You are one of my best & most trusted friends. I love you very much, Dad". He died two and half months later. But, true to form, he had given me yet another incredible gift, by giving me that card and sharing those words at what turned out to be just the right time.
I wish a Happy Father's Day to all, that is filled with generosity in spirit.
