The Christmas that Was - A Fine Day Indeed

I woke hours before the others, 4:15 to be exact and I lay presents beneath the tree and turned on the colored lights and lit every candle I could find. I sat and marveled at the peace in light that surrounded me. I put on a cd of Christmas music intermixed with sounds of nature.

All is calm. All is bright.

I read a story in the newspaper and here's the part that stays with me. It was about a struggling single mom with teenage daughters that got a helping hand. The generous benefactor said she took the girls shopping to buy a gift for their mother. And after they'd made their selection they said to her, "We're sorry. Can you help us? We don't know how to wrap it." It was the first gift they'd every given their Mom. It made my heart seize up for two reasons - 1. They apologized for not knowing how to wrap and 2. They didn't know how to wrap.

Before the sun came up on Christmas morning, I was given a glorious gift of perspective as well as a gift of weight. The weight of what matters. I greeted the sunrise, my children and my husband with a "Merry Christmas" and a full heart of gratitude for what I'd already received.