On Christmas Eve, the theme of gifts definitely emerged in my quest to do just one positive thing for myself and for others, but they were the best gifts of all, the kind that cannot be bought. Both involved the very precious gift of time; time for myself and time for someone else.
Earlier this evening, while at my parents’ home to celebrate Christmas Eve, we called my ninety-three year old paternal grandmother who lives over 800 miles away to wish her a ‘Merry Christmas’. Rather than say the perfunctory holiday greetings and quickly end the conversation, I engaged her in a delightful chat that covered a variety of topics. I love to listen to her stories and to talk with her about my girls, who are her namesakes, and she always takes an interest in what I have to say. When I was a little girl, I used to write her long letters on a regular basis, and she was the first person to ever compliment my writing and to encourage me to keep writing. She gave me a charm bracelet one Christmas, and on it was a pencil and pad charm. It made me feel like a real writer, and I still have it tucked away in a keepsake box. My grandmother is one of my heroes, and she always has taken time for me, so, to be able to give her the gift of my time tonight was the least I could do. It made me realize that I need to give her this gift more often, and so, I shall.
I also gave myself the gift of time this evening, which was a true gift indeed during the midst of the Christmas chaos. I had a lot of things to do, but I allowed myself the chance to just take in the beauty of the Christmas tree and the Christmas lights and to be still and silent. As I sat there alone, a myriad of thoughts and feelings flooded my head and my heart, and I smiled, shed some tears, wrestled some inner demons, prayed, and held onto hope in the dark of the silent night. Taking some time out for myself helped put some things into perspective and gave me some much needed solace. My heart, mind, and baby soul were grateful for this gift, and they’ve requested more of my time to pay attention to them and to nurture them. I made a promise to take time each day for them, and they were happy indeed. It is a gift and a promise that I cannot and will not take back.
As Christmas Eve turns into Christmas Day, I wish you and yours all the best that this season has to offer, and I hope that you will give your best to all those who need it the most. Merry Christmas!
Just one thing each day . . .
Categories: Just One Thing Each Day
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