Top Ten Christmas Gifts for 2010
Swen Nater

What are you getting your children for Christmas? This year, the top ten gifts are:
1. iPod
2. iPad
3. Xbox 360 Kinect Console
4. Playstation Move
5. Kindle
6. Halo Reach For Xbox 360
7. Samsung LN40C630 LCD HD TV
8. Call of Duty Black Ops
9. ASUS UL30A-X5 Laptop
10. Motorola DROID II Android Cell Phone

Before you spend all that money, consider some alternative gifts that, I believe, are pretty good too, and they don’t cost any money. Here are ten gifts, Coach Wooden’s father, Joshua, a poor farmer, gave him.

1. Hard Work
Coach grew up on a farm. His father made his boys help. It was very, very, hard work. There is no substitute for hard work.
2. Love Their Mother
Coach said, “The best thing you can do for your children is to love their mother.” 
3. Read Poetry
Every night, when tucking John Wooden in, Joshua read him great poetry. In doing so, Joshua gave him a passion for making an art out of playing with the English language.
4. Honesty
A great gift was “Two Sets of Threes:” Never Lie, Never Cheat, Never Steal, and Never Whine, Never Complain, Never Make Excuses.
5. Never Say an Unkind Word About Anyone
Coach said he never heard his father say a negative thing about anyone.
6. Success Has Nothing to Do With Material Possessions or Status
Success is the peace of mind that comes from being satisfied that you made the effort to become all that you are capable of becoming. Being a poor farm boy, this was a great gift from Coach’s father.
7. Faith
Joshua Wooden lost his farm in the Depression. But he never lost faith in his God. The demonstration of trust in God may have been Joshua’s most valuable gift to Coach Wooden. 
8. The Seven-Point Creed
Upon grade school graduation, Joshua gave Coach this creed to live by: Be true to yourself, Help others, Make each day your masterpiece, Drink deeply from good books, Make friendship a fine art, Build a shelter against a rainy day, Pray for guidance and counsel and give thanks for your blessings each day.
9. Be Kind to Animals
Animals don’t respond to screaming, yelling, or pulling. They can hear and understand when you talk to them. There is never a reason to lay a hand on any animal. Joshua demonstrated this often by the way he worked with stubborn mules on the farm.
10. Build a Tomato Basket Hoop in the Barn
This one is optional.

Coach Wooden didn’t receive an Xbox for Christmas. I don’t think that hurt him, do you?