"The Gift" by Li-young lee

The gift by Li-young lee seems to revolve around a young boy who had gotten a splinter or piece of metal stuck in his hand. His father then removes the splinter all the while telling him a story one in which he cannot remember if asked now. All the author can recall is the strong and calming way his father sounded and the peace he brought to a concerned child. This became a art of him eventually and turned into a similar incident with the authors wife. She too gets a splinter stuck within her nail and he carefully so she feels no pain "files her nail down" and gently removes it for her. In the end the author then goes to recall that he ket the splinter and kissed his father when it was over. No crying or dramatics just a simple kiss of gratitude for not only removing it but giving it to the boy to keep. I wonder why did he keep the splinter? Was it because of the care his father took to remove it or does it symbolize something else? I feel it describes and demonstrates the bond between father and son. I also feel perhaps it was more then the soothing and quick way the father removed the splinter? Maybe the son was purposely no crying to seem brave ion front of him? He specifically oints out the when it was over he didn't lift u the wound and cry. Could it really be because it was so ainless or because he had to be strong?