Most of take all the things our parents have given us or done for us for granted.
We don’t ever think to repay them, even when we are old enough to do so. Most parents don’t expect to be repaid, either. They took care of us because it was their job. But wouldn’t it be nice to be able to take care of them and give them something amazing as a reward for being great parents?
Pavin Smith recently got to do that for his parents.
He was the seventh pick in this year’s baseball draft. At only 21 years old, he was given a $5 million sign-on bonus. A lot of young adults would have that money spent before the check even clears. Pavin had other plans. He wanted to use his money for something smart, responsible, and helpful.
He decided to pay off his parent’s home.
He knew that what he was about to do was really going to change his parents’ lives for the better and wasn’t a small act. Still, he was more than excited to do it. He figured the best time to break the news would be around the holidays. He wanted to give them the best Christmas gift ever.
How do you present such a big gift?
He decided that the best thing to do was write them a letter to explain. He wrote:
“Thank you for raising me in a great home filled with love. Because of all the sacrifices you made to get me where I am, I want our family home to be yours.”
He gave the letter to his parents as their gift, and they couldn’t believe what they were reading. They no longer had a mortgage on their home and had that much more money to spare each month.
Pavin realizes that what he did was extraordinary, but he still says that it is nothing compared to what his parents did for him.
He had a great childhood and a supportive family. Without the support and encouragement of his parents, he wouldn’t be able to pursue his love for baseball and wouldn’t be the seventh pick in the draft. He maintains that he still owes his parents for all that they have done for him.
As great a gift as this is, it probably made his siblings and other family members a little jealous. How do you compete with a gift like this? Pots and pans, clothes, gift cards, and even vacation getaways can’t compare with paying off a mortgage. Hopefully, they were all good sports about it.
If Pavin continues to do well on the baseball field, he will likely have plenty of money to help out his family in the future.
That’s good, because it’s going to be hard to come up with something to get them next year that will compare to what they got this year.
But, if his parents are really as great as he says they are, they probably won’t expect any gifts at all next year. Seeing their son succeed and knowing that he appreciates everything they did for him when he was growing up is probably the best Christmas gift they could ask for and one that will last them a lifetime.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
