**The Mother-in-Laws Wedding Gift: When Its Better to Give Nothing**
Emily and James were getting married. The ceremony was in full swing when the officiant announced it was time for the gifts. The brides parents were the first to congratulate them. Then came the grooms mother, Margaret Whitmore, carrying a large box tied with a pale blue ribbon.
*Goodness! I wonder whats inside?* Emily whispered excitedly to James.
*No idea. Mums kept it a secret all this time,* he replied, equally puzzled.
They decided to open the gifts the next day, once the wedding chaos had settled. Emily suggested starting with his mothers box. After untying the ribbon and lifting the lid, they peeked insideand were speechless.
Emily had noticed something odd about James early on: he never took anything without asking, not even a trifle.
*Can I have the last biscuit?* hed ask timidly, eyeing the lonely treat in the tin.
*Of course!* shed reply, surprised. *You dont have to ask.*
*Force of habit,* hed smile awkwardly, unwrapping it quickly.
It took months before Emily understood where this hesitation came from.
One day, James introduced her to his parents, Margaret and Edward. At first, his mother seemed welcomingbut that illusion faded at dinner.
She served two plates with a meagre scoop of mash and a single cutlet. James finished quickly and, lowering his voice, politely asked for seconds.
*You eat like a horse! Well never keep you fed!* Margaret exclaimed, shocking Emily.
When Edward asked for more, his wife eagerly refilled his plate. Emily finished hers in silence, stunned by Margarets obvious disdain for her own son.
Later, during wedding preparations, Margaret criticised everything: the rings, the venue, the menu.
*Why spend so much? You couldve found cheaper!* she kept saying disapprovingly.
Emily finally snapped.
*Let us handle it! Its our money, our choice!*
Hurt, Margaret stopped calling and even threatened not to attend.
Two days before the wedding, Edward visited them.
*Come help with the gift,* he said, leading James to his car.
He gave them a washing machine, bought without consulting Margaret, who still thought it too extravagant. Shed vanished into the crowd soon after.
The next day, opening her box, their excitement turned to dismay.
*Towels?* Emily muttered in disbelief.
*And socks,* James added, holding up two pairs of plain cotton ones. *Mum just grabbed whatever was lying about.*
A few days later, Margaret called to interrogate James about the other guests gifts.
*What did your in-laws give? Your friends?* she pressed.
*None of your business,* he replied before hanging up, relieved.
The lesson stands: generosity isnt measured by a gifts price but by the respect behind it. And Margaret had forgotten that long ago.
