The Christmas Gesture
Do you believe in miracles?
I do, I believe, with a little faith, that all things can be made and created possible. Christmas was approaching, and the children had lost their Christmas cheer, as they held very few memories about their time spent with their dad on Christmas Day.
Most of their fond memories of Christmas were about the extended family, as Stephan had never been one for celebrating Christmas. He believed that Christmas was a commercialised idea to get people to spend money that they didn’t have.
His ideal Christmas was being curled up on a sofa with a bottle of Hennessy and a bag of grounded green leafy substances, capturing every moment of sleep. Christmas was not about family, nor was it about the time spent with loved ones and friends or about the smile you shared with others when receiving a gift. You can say he was a bit of a ‘Humbug’, the year was coming to an end, and the Festive season air was drawing close.
The children were finally on their Christmas break and neither seemed thrilled, as neither had given a thought to their Santa’s list. No one seemed prepared. Patrice, still devastated by what had occurred, buried herself in self-pity and had forgotten all about Christmas.
The house felt airy, cold, empty and unalived. The presence of dark shadows was sucking energy and life. Every room and window was bare; there was no sign of Christmas anywhere, and laughter and joy had disappeared. There was no twinkling of lights in the air; Christmas had truly vanished.
The joy of Christmas had been destroyed; someone had stolen from the heart of them all. Brokenness had a hold on every fragile soul. There were mixed feelings and emotions in every room and corner of their home. Doom, gloom and sorrow were embedded into the walls and minds of every soul present and affected by this tragedy.
Just a few days before Christmas, Patrice had received an invitation to join her sister and her family in New York City for the festive season, but she had written back declining the goodwill gesture.
Dear Susan,
Thank you for the kind gesture. However, the family and I are not in a festive mood. The children have lost their Christmas spark, and we are currently unable to travel abroad this year due to my unemployment and emotional distress. Here's wishing you all the best at Christmas and hoping all your dreams come true.
Sincerely,
Your Loving Sister, Patrice.
That Night, after finishing the letter, Patrice had noticed that the wind blew violently as the snow fell upon the ground like dewdrops on a rainy day. The girls had gone to their beds, and not a noise could be heard. But as Patrice was about to switch off her bedroom lights, she heard the creaking of the floorboards as tiny little feet approached her bedroom door. In the corner of the room, a voice had requested to creep into her bed as each was restless and saddened.
Their souls were broken, and the airy, cold night made them long for warmth and comfort. While under the sheets, a voice asked, ‘What does Christmas mean to you, ‘Mummy’, surprised by such a question, Patrice replied, When I was a little girl, Christmas to me was about spending time with your extended family both far and near. It is about caring and giving, sharing and loving and laughter that could be heard everywhere. Christmas was my favourite time of the year as I hid under the sheets waiting to hear Santa’s big feet, so I could get a good peek at that special gift he left under the Christmas tree that year.
In hearing those words, the children arose and quickly hustled down the stairs it was as though their soul was awoken by the Spirit of Christmas Cheer. In their excitement, they gathered the ornaments and began to prepare for Christmas that very night. The following morning, there was a heavy knock at the door as I pierce my eye's threw the peep hole I had noticed a gentleman dressed in orange holding a medium-sized red and white box inscribed Christmas, Lunch on Jesus’ and down at his side, there was a large red sack tied with white, green and gold string.
The card read ‘Merry Christmas, Jesus hasn’t forgotten you’. In great dismay, she had asked the gentleman if he was sure he had come to the right door. He then replied by asking if her door number was ‘25A’, she humbly replied ‘yes, it is’, then this parcel is for you.
In astonishment, she kept on saying, ‘Are you sure it’s for me?’ She took the parcel and the box and proceeded to her kitchen counter. Gazing at the kind gesture a stranger had given to her on that Christmas morning, she became overwhelmed with tears of joy.
As she unpacked the box in great amazement, there was a Christmas feast awaiting a King. Turkey, wine, potatoes, parsnips, treats, presents for all and a note that said, 'Jesus has not forgotten thee'.
Proverbs 22:11
He who loves purity of heart, and whose speech is gracious will have the king as his friend.
Philippians 2:4
Let each of you look not only to his interests, but also to the interests of others.
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