The Best Gift Ever
Louis and I sat at the counter of an ice cream shop, swiveling on bar stools.
Some of the best conversations in human history have happened while swiveling on bar stools.
We studied the menu carefully before we made the biggest decision of the day.
After much prayer and consideration we placed our order.
Louis ordered cookies and cream ice cream in a cake cone and I got the closest thing they had to Moose Tracks.
I like my sugar to have sugar.
We ate our ice cream as we talked about summer and baseball and the funnel cake french fries we shared a month or so earlier.
Then the conversation landed on the dreaded word of summer: school.
“Are you looking forward to the upcoming school year, Louis?” I asked.
Louis sighed.
“Uh, not really. I’m a little nervous.”
“Oh, yeah? Why’s that?” I asked, knowing the answer.
“Uh, well, I’ll be starting at a new school. I’ll be the new kid.” Louis apprehensively responded.
He became quiet and a familiar look came across his face.
It’s the same look that comes across my face when I don’t want to do something, but I know that I need to do it.
It’s the same face you make when the mechanic tells you all the things that are wrong with your vehicle and how much you’ll owe to have it repaired.
I didn’t know what to tell Louis.
I didn't want to preach to him and I don’t believe in simply saying, “Eh, I’m sure it will all be okay!”
Even though I do think it will all be okay.
So, I figured he might need to hear what I often remind myself.
“Can I tell you what I sometimes tell myself when I am in a situation similar to yours?” I asked.
“Please!” Louis said as he continued to swivel on his stool.
“Have you ever had brisket before?” I asked.
“Yes?” He said half certain.
“It’s a type of BBQ. It’s the good stuff, like if pulled pork had a rich uncle.” I said, wondering if that made any sense at all.
“Oh, gotcha! I love BBQ!” Louis exclaimed before taking another lick of his melting ice cream cone.
“Brisket is a fine cut of meat that takes all day to smoke. Time is one of the key ingredients when it comes to making brisket. There are no shortcuts when preparing it. It’s supposed to take a long time. Most of the time we want good things to happen quickly. We want to skip past the waiting and difficulty.”
Louis’ eyes squinted and I wondered if he was keeping up with me.
“You get what I am saying?” I asked.
He nodded big.
“Alright. Have you ever had a frozen burrito?”
He nodded big again.
“It takes about 90 seconds in the microwave and is half-decent. But brisket is the meat of all meats and takes hours upon hours until it’s ready. Brisket requires patience and waiting and attention, but is always worth the wait.” I explained.
“Okay, well, now I want brisket!” Louis said.
“Oh me too! I tell you this because I think it’s good to remember that good things take time. I always want to jump ahead. Waiting is hard, enduring the unknown is difficult, new adventures are often scary, but more often than not it is worth it. The first few days and weeks and maybe even months of school might be hard and challenging, but I know you know how to do hard things.”
“That makes sense.”
“Okay, before we talk about the Super Mario Bros. Movie, because we need to talk about it, there are two other things I think you should know before you start the school year. Do you want to know what they are?”
“Yes!”
“Okay, but you have to promise me that whatever I say next you’ll believe me.”
“I promise!”
“Louis, people like you and you are a good friend.”
Louis smiled.
And then we talked about The Super Mario Bro. Movie.
We both agreed that it might be the greatest movie of all time.
We will be shocked if this cinematic masterpiece doesn’t win all of the Oscars.
The next day Louis ran up to me with a huge smile on his face.
“Hey Tanner! I made something for you. I need to go and get it, so don’t move. Stay right there.”
Louis took off running the way kids run. He was barefoot and free and on a mission.
A few minutes later Louis ran back and jumped right in front of me.
“Alright. Are you ready?” Louis said with eyes wide as he caught his breath.
I nodded my head and held out my hand.
“Do you like it?” Louis asked as he placed a small figurine in my hand.
“Louis!” I shouted.
My jaw dropped.
I was stunned by what Louis had made for me.
“You .. made .. this?”
Louis proudly nodded his head twice.
“It’s amazing. Louis, this is my favorite gift I've ever been given.”
In my hand was a hand crafted coffee mug figurine that was once a rock on the shore of Lake Michigan.
“Lou, how long did this take to make?”
“Like, two hours!”
“Two hours!?”
“Yeah! I shaved down the rock and little by little it became this coffee mug!”
“Two hours is a long time! But totally worth it. I love it, Louis.”
“Well, you know, good things take time.” Louis said.
And that’s when I began to cry.
About the Author
Tanner Olson is an author, poet, speaker, and podcaster living in Nashville, Tennessee.
He is the author of I’m All Over the Place, As You Go, Walk A Little Slower, and Continue: Poems and Prayers of Hope.
You can find Tanner Olson’s books on Amazon.
His podcast is The Walk A Little Slower Podcast with Tanner Olson and can be found wherever you listen to podcasts.
Tanner Olson travels around the country sharing poetry, telling stories, and delivering messages of hope.
You can follow Tanner Olson on Instagram (@writtentospeak) and Facebook where you’ll daily find encouraging words of faith and hope.
