Christmas is for Love

 

(Summary:  In “Christmas is for Love,” the narrator recounts a heartwarming story of a young boy named Mark, an orphan living with his embittered aunt. Mark’s genuine kindness and love for his deceased mother inspire the narrator. Mark secretly crafts a wooden box as a Christmas gift, explaining that it contains love, which makes people feel warm and safe. The story beautifully emphasizes the true spirit of Christmas – the boundless power of love, shared unconditionally.)

Christmas

is for love.

It is for joy,

for giving and sharing,

for laughter,

for reuniting with family and friends,

for tinsel and brightly covered packages.

But, mostly Christmas is for love.

I had not believed this until a small

elf-like pupil with wide-eyed innocence

and soft rosy cheeks gave me a wondrous gift one Christmas.

Mark

was an 11 year old

orphan who lived

with his aunt,

a bitter, middle aged woman

greatly annoyed with the burden

of caring for her dead sister’s son.

She never failed to remind young Mark,

if it hadn’t been for her generosity, he would be a

vagrant, homeless waif.

Still,

with all the scolding and

chilliness at home,

he was a sweet and gentle child.

I had not noticed Mark particularly

until he began staying after class each day

[at the risk of arousing his aunt’s anger so I learned later]

to help me straighten up the room.

We did this quietly and comfortably, not speaking much, but enjoying

the solitude of that hour of the day.

When we did talk, Mark spoke mostly of his mother.

Though he was quite young when she died, he remembered a kind,

gentle, loving woman who always spent time with him.

                                                  

As Christmas drew near however, Mark failed to stay after school each day.

I looked forward

to his coming, and when

the days passed and he continued to

scamper hurriedly from the room after class,

I stopped him one afternoon and asked him why he no longer helped me in the room.

I told him how I had missed him, and his large brown eyes lit up eagerly as he replied,

‘Did you really miss me?’ I explained how he had been my best helper,

‘I was making you a surprise,’

he whispered confidentially. ‘It’s for Christmas.’

With that, he became embarrassed and dashed from the room.

He didn’t stay after school any more after that.

Finally came the last school day before Christmas.

Mark crept slowly into the room late that afternoon with his hands concealing something

behind his back.

‘I have your present,’

he said timidly when I looked up.

‘I hope you like it.’ He held out his hands, and there lying in his small palms

was a tiny wooden box.

‘It’s beautiful, Mark. Is there something in it?’

I asked opening the top to look inside.

‘Oh you can’t see what’s in it,’ he replied,

‘and you can’t touch it, or taste it or feel it, but mother always said

it makes you feel good all the time, warm on cold nights and safe when you’re all alone.’

I gazed into the empty box.

‘What is it, Mark’ I asked gently, ‘that will make me feel so good?’

‘It’s love,’ he whispered softly, ‘and mother always said it’s best when you give it away.’

He turned and quietly left the room.

So now I keep a small box made of wood on the piano in my living room and only smile

as inquiring friends raise quizzical eyebrows when I explain to them there is love in it.

Yes, Christmas is

for gaiety, mirth,

and wondrous gifts.

But mostly, ………………..

Christmas is for love.