This book is truly a GIFT

My son has to read this book for a youth trip they will be taking to Colorado this summer where they will be helping elderly people who are in need. I read it to see what it was all about, and found a story that really draws you in and leads you through the most fundamental yet difficult of life principles.

The book is written in parable form, so it is easy to read. As the story opens a man has just died, (Red Stevens) and has left his dearest friend, the lawyer, to be the executor of his estate. To most in the family he leaves wealth with some conditions imposed. But to one young man,(Jason) Red recognizes a spark, something special, and he wishes to convey to that young man the lessons that a life of privilege have kept him from being able to learn.

According to the conditions of the will, every month for 1 year Jason must complete a task toward the ultimate gift. He is directed toward these tasks by a video his Uncle Red has left for him. Each task teaches one principal that he missed out on learning, largely due to his uncle's money.

The principles taught are as follows:
Gift of Work
Gift of Money
Gift of Friends
Gift of Learning
Gift of Problems
Gift of Family
Gift of Laughter
Gift of Dreams
Gift of Giving
Gift of Gratitude
Gift of a day
Gift of Love
The ultimate gift.

Each month Jason has to learn about these principles. I won't spoil the story by giving you the whole plot but will tell you that the discovery of these gifts take Jason on a wild and crazy journey that help him learn and internalize these principles into his own character. At the end of the year, Jason truly becomes the man that he was meant to be, and he does receive the Ultimate Gift.

One example of how the lessons are learned by Jason, is when Jason must take 1500 dollars he earned when working during the first month, and the second month has to give it away to people who it will really make a difference in their lives. Jason is a playboy and has easily dropped 1500 dollars before partying with his friends, so he has no real concept of how money can make a difference in someone's life.
He finds an old woman whose husband can't afford his cardiac medication, and by giving her 200 dollars he is able to buy 3 months worth and really make a critical difference in their lives. He also helps a young mother who is about to have her car reposessed by paying the last 400 dollars on her loan. Through this lesson, as he spends the 1500 dollars he comes to the realization that money, when used properly, can have a huge impact for good in someone's life.
I hope that you will read this book and pass it on to the young people in your life. These life principles apply to people of any age, and the younger they are learned the more they impact our lives.