all of the wonderful things we have been given.
“And, finally, from the gift of a day, I learned that if I only had twenty-four hours left to live, I would want to feel and experience as much love as I could and pass it on to as many others as possible.”
Jason paused and cleared his throat. I was just about to tell him that I heartily approved of his mastery of the gift of love, when he continued.
“If I were going to really try to define the gift of love in tangible terms, I would have to cite as an example what my Uncle Red did for me and what he gave me during this last year. When we truly love others, our love makes each of us a different person, and it makes each one we love a different person too.
“My Uncle Red’s love for me in giving me the ultimate gift forever changed my life and who I am.”
Jason rose to his feet and hugged Miss Hastings. He stepped around my desk and hugged me as well. He thanked us both for everything and let us know that he looked forward to staying in touch with us in the future.
As Jason put his hand on the doorknob, I stopped him by saying, “Just a minute, Jason. There is one more step in the ultimate gift that you don’t know about.”
FIFTEEN
THE ULTIMATE GIFT
In the end,
life lived to its fullest
is its own ultimate gift.
Jason turned with a bewildered look on his face and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mr. Hamilton. We did all twelve of the gifts that Uncle Red mentioned, and he said that this month would be the last one.”
“Well, as Red Stevens’ attorney and as executor of his estate,” I replied, “I can tell you that he had one last bequest in his will that would only be made available if all the conditions were met. As the sole arbiter of each of the conditions, I can tell you that they have all been met and exceeded.”
Jason continued to appear perplexed and said, “I really don’t know what you are talking about. I thought—”
Miss Hastings interrupted and said, “I realize you thought you were done. But there is one more step. If you’ll follow me into the conference room, I do believe all things will become clear.”
We adjourned to the conference room, and in a few moments, Red Stevens was once again speaking to us from the video screen.
“Jason,” he said, “I want to tell you how proud of you I am. You have completed each element and received each part of the ultimate gift I had planned for you. I wish that I had come into possession of all twelve gifts as early in life as you have. Now that you have received the ultimate gift, not only do you have the privilege of enjoying it, but you have the responsibility of living your life to its fullest with each gift in balance. You have the further responsibility of passing along the ultimate gift whenever it is possible.
“I wish I could be with you to simply watch the wonderful things that are going to happen in your life, but somehow—in my own way—I suspect I will be with you.
“Jason, I have done a lot of things in my life, but the best of them may well be passing the ultimate gift on to you. Please don’t let me down. Make the gift grow and be fruitful. Make your life an extension of the ultimate gift you have received. If you will do all of these things, you will have—in your own way—given to me your version of the ultimate gift.”
The image of Red Stevens faded away for what would be the last time.
As the lights came up, Jason leaped to his feet and, with a confident look on his face, said, “I am going to do it! I am going to use every element of the ultimate gift, and I am going to find a way to pass it on to deprived people who are as I was a year ago. I had no idea that the greatest gift anyone could be given is the awareness of all of the gifts he or she already has. Now I know why God made me and put me on this earth. I understand the purpose for my life and how I can help other people find their purpose.”
Jason, once again, headed
“And, finally, from the gift of a day, I learned that if I only had twenty-four hours left to live, I would want to feel and experience as much love as I could and pass it on to as many others as possible.”
Jason paused and cleared his throat. I was just about to tell him that I heartily approved of his mastery of the gift of love, when he continued.
“If I were going to really try to define the gift of love in tangible terms, I would have to cite as an example what my Uncle Red did for me and what he gave me during this last year. When we truly love others, our love makes each of us a different person, and it makes each one we love a different person too.
“My Uncle Red’s love for me in giving me the ultimate gift forever changed my life and who I am.”
Jason rose to his feet and hugged Miss Hastings. He stepped around my desk and hugged me as well. He thanked us both for everything and let us know that he looked forward to staying in touch with us in the future.
As Jason put his hand on the doorknob, I stopped him by saying, “Just a minute, Jason. There is one more step in the ultimate gift that you don’t know about.”
FIFTEEN
THE ULTIMATE GIFT
In the end,
life lived to its fullest
is its own ultimate gift.
Jason turned with a bewildered look on his face and said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about, Mr. Hamilton. We did all twelve of the gifts that Uncle Red mentioned, and he said that this month would be the last one.”
“Well, as Red Stevens’ attorney and as executor of his estate,” I replied, “I can tell you that he had one last bequest in his will that would only be made available if all the conditions were met. As the sole arbiter of each of the conditions, I can tell you that they have all been met and exceeded.”
Jason continued to appear perplexed and said, “I really don’t know what you are talking about. I thought—”
Miss Hastings interrupted and said, “I realize you thought you were done. But there is one more step. If you’ll follow me into the conference room, I do believe all things will become clear.”
We adjourned to the conference room, and in a few moments, Red Stevens was once again speaking to us from the video screen.
“Jason,” he said, “I want to tell you how proud of you I am. You have completed each element and received each part of the ultimate gift I had planned for you. I wish that I had come into possession of all twelve gifts as early in life as you have. Now that you have received the ultimate gift, not only do you have the privilege of enjoying it, but you have the responsibility of living your life to its fullest with each gift in balance. You have the further responsibility of passing along the ultimate gift whenever it is possible.
“I wish I could be with you to simply watch the wonderful things that are going to happen in your life, but somehow—in my own way—I suspect I will be with you.
“Jason, I have done a lot of things in my life, but the best of them may well be passing the ultimate gift on to you. Please don’t let me down. Make the gift grow and be fruitful. Make your life an extension of the ultimate gift you have received. If you will do all of these things, you will have—in your own way—given to me your version of the ultimate gift.”
The image of Red Stevens faded away for what would be the last time.
As the lights came up, Jason leaped to his feet and, with a confident look on his face, said, “I am going to do it! I am going to use every element of the ultimate gift, and I am going to find a way to pass it on to deprived people who are as I was a year ago. I had no idea that the greatest gift anyone could be given is the awareness of all of the gifts he or she already has. Now I know why God made me and put me on this earth. I understand the purpose for my life and how I can help other people find their purpose.”
Jason, once again, headed
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