The Best Christmas Gifts

Sunday, December 23, 2018 · Mike Davis

Good morning

With only 2 days left before Christmas, I hope you all are done with shopping and settling down for the celebration of the birth of the baby Jesus with your loved ones. Without a doubt, my focus will be on the reason we celebrate this season. Christmas day itself will be quiet for me, but I plan to seek out a nice place for a long run and some quality reflective time.

Running has been a part of my world much of the past 12-plus years and through the ups and downs of life, it has served as partner to my faith. Yesterday an old friend whom I have not heard from in a few years called me to pass on his condolences at the recent passing of my Mother. After the conversation moved past the typical sentiments, we transitioned to catching up. He asked if I was still running, and seemed somewhat surprised to hear I am. I will not lie, I was kind of proud to be able to surprise someone of my ability to still be running, while being nearly 56 years of age.

For me, running is a true blessing and a gift. If you are a runner, I have no doubt you can relate. Being sidelined for a good portion of 2018 was both frustrating and difficult. Not just because I could not run, but also doubts of being able to run long-term lingered with each setback. Once upon a time running might have been an obsession (possibly not a healthy one), but with maturity, running became a gift I did not want to relinquish.

As the calendar continuously flips over and the years pass, I find certain gifts are far more special than those with a higher price tag. Gifts with love attached to them bring a warmth far greater than a new electronic gadget, or something Amazon delivered. A gift that brings meaning and represents love goes to the heart of what matters most to me. My Mother passed last weekend and while I will miss her, I am grateful she has gone home. When I was looking around her apartment, I looked at a collage of family pictures in a large frame. My wife put together this collage many years ago and gave it to my Mom as a gift. This collage of pictures of Kathy, myself and our children, has adorned my Mom’s wall since it was given to her and I have no doubt my Mother got much enjoyment and warmth from it.

This Christmas will be a lot different for me, however I am grateful for why we celebrate it and thankful for all the gifts I am blessed with.

One of my lame hobbies is collecting model trains. A few Christmas’s ago Kathy gave me a beautiful replica set of the original Orient Express. That is set was costly, however it is very special to because of the spirit in which it was given. These are my some of my Marklin Christmas pieces, and while I have yet to run them on a track, they nice to set out.

I hope you are having the most wonderful Christmas season and enjoy peace, love and joy throughout it. If not find some mistletoe and someone you love. ??

From No Finish Line Fitness, I would like to wish you all a very Merry Christmas.

Love you Mom!

God Bless!

Mike