August 25, 2025 
by M. Regina Cram
It was one of the best gifts our family ever received. In fact, we screamed with delight when the gift arrived: a gift made possible by the generosity of our daughter-in-law, Kaitlyn.
It was mid-summer, and our family had rented a cottage on the Brewster flats of Cape Cod. Our adult children and their families often accompanied us for what had become everyone’s favorite week of the year. We spent endless hours combing the beach and building intricate sandcastles, confident that this time it would hold back the mighty tide. The little ones chortled with glee as they splashed through the puddles chasing minnows.
This particular year, everyone joined us except our son, Peter, and his family. Peter is our oldest child and the only boy, and his sisters idolize him. We were all terribly disappointed that their family schedule did not permit them to join us.
We arrived at the cottage on a muggy Saturday in July, lugging fishing tackle and flip flops and homemade guacamole. The two-year-old barreled through the house, climbing on every chair like Goldilocks visiting the three bears. Everything was an adventure.
We unpacked, went to Mass, then returned to the cottage to celebrate our youngest daughter’s birthday. We offered toasts and shared hearty laughter as the birthday girl opened gifts. Even so, there was a palpable longing, a hole in the fabric of the family. We missed Peter and Kaitlyn.
Back in Connecticut, Kaitlyn had spent the day at a family bridal shower. Afterwards, she made the long drive home to their noisy household. Together, she and Peter fed the kids and got them ready for bed. Then Kaitlyn handed Peter her remarkable gift.
The gift was delivered to us three hours later. It was 10:00 on Saturday evening on Cape Cod, and we were gathered in the living room, discussing what to do next. “Does anyone want to play the card game 99?” someone suggested. A male voice from the shadows responded, “I do.”
It was Peter.
We screamed and kissed his face and barraged him with questions. At the last minute, Kaitlyn was able to arrange her schedule to make it possible for Peter to join us for a day and a half. She did it as a gift to the family.
We enjoyed every minute with him. There was body surfing at Nauset Beach, Frisbee on the flats, and the mandatory trip for ice cream. Our photographer son-in-law took pictures of the four siblings goofing around as they thanked God for Kaitlyn’s generosity.
Years ago, when Peter and Kaitlyn were married, we gave Kaitlyn the precious gift of our son. Last summer on Cape Cod, she loaned him back to us for a little while. People say the best gifts come in small packages, but they’re wrong. The best gifts come from sacrificial love.
M. Regina Cram is a published author and a parishioner of SS. Isidore and Maria Parish.
