Every Watch Tells A Story

Every watch tells a story.

My first watch that I ever received was a Snoopy watch that I got from my parents. I enjoyed watching his hands point to the correct time and holding it up to my ear to hear it tick. I don’t remember what happened to that watch. However, I do think it is interesting that I still remember it.

The monetary value of a gift is not necessarily what gives the gift it’s value. For example, the mouse I use for my laptop is a gift from my boys. It is by no means top of the line or state of the art. It is an Iron Man mouse that they found on Amazon. They gave it to me for Father’s Day. I have used it ever since. The mouse means a lot to me because my boys thought enough to find and give me this gift.

The same thought process can be said of any gift…including watches.

This is a Samsung smart watch. I think I paid my brother-in-law about $25 for it. This is not the kind of watch that you would think can have any real value. This watch will be long gone before my son graduates high school. A smart watch is only as good as the technology and updates inside of it.

It is a far cry from a handmade watch. It is not close to a Movado, a Seiko, a Rolex, a Tudor, or even an Omega. It’s not even close to a Casio G-Shock. This is not a chronograph. It is definitely not a diver’s watch. This Samsung watch does not have the gears and pins and other things that make a watch.

Watches are legacy items. A watch can be given from father to son or grandfather to grandson. This Samsung watch is not a legacy watch. In fact, as I write this blog post, my watch is already outdated.

So then, this question must be asked:

Why do I like this watch so much?

When I wear this watch it has value to me especially since it came from my brother-in-law. This watch reminds me of when I was dating Kristi, her dad, made her brother go with us on our date to McDonald’s. It reminds me of all of the car rides we have had. It reminds me of the conversations we have had. This watch reminds me that James, my brother-in-law was with me when I planted FaithPoint. He was there for the whole eight years. He was my associate pastor and even preached for me on some occasions. Some of my pastor friends and I ordained him.

This watch is a reminder of the book discussions and Bible studies and church planning at places like Wendy’s and Hardee’s. It’s a reminder of all the times we have gone to the movies, watched football or watched wrestling.

The watch is a reminder of every road trip we have had when we went to conferences together. The watch symbolizes what we have learned from those conferences, the snacks eaten in the hotels, the car problems, and the fun that we had each year.

This watch was a part of my journey while I was the pastor at Unity. It is the only watch that I wore for the two years that I was the pastor there.

The watch will be with me when God allows me to pastor another church. I will wear this watch until the software is no longer updated or the battery will no longer hold a charge.

I do have other watches. Only one of them has significant meaning. The rest of them are just watches that I bought. They don’t hold any special meaning.

Gifts are interesting. A note that was written or a picture, that was given to me by my boys, has more meaning than any other thing that I have bought for myself.

Isn’t that like salvation?

Your salvation is a gift from Jesus. Jesus took your sin and exchanged that by giving you his righteousness. It is a gift. It means more than anything that this world can offer.

What gift has someone given to you that has a lot of value to you? Feel free to share that in the comments.

Grace and peace to you.

Pastor Jimmy