Christmas is for love. Christmas time is a time of joy, giving and sharing, a time of laughter, a time of meeting family and friends, a time of glittering chains on a tree and decorated packages. Above all, Christmas is here for love.
I didn’t believe it, until I received an incredible gift from a small elf, a similar pupil with eyes full of innocence, one Christmas. Marek was an eleven-year-old orphan who lived with his aunt, a bitter middle-aged woman, very disgusted by the fact that after the death of her sister, she was left with the burden of caring for her little nephew. She never failed to take the opportunity to warn Mark that without her generosity he would have been abandoned and without a roof over his head. Surprisingly, despite the constant reproaches and the cold that surrounded him at home, Marek was a nice and kind boy.
I really noticed Mark only when he started to stay in the classroom after school (for which his aunt’s reproaches and anger, as I later found out) at home, to help me calm the class. We did the activity calmly and comfortably, we didn’t talk much, but we both enjoyed the silence and peace of this time. When Marek had already spoken, it was mostly about his mother. Although he was still very young when she died, he well remembered the kind, tender and loving woman who always gave him a lot of time.
As Christmas approached, Marek suddenly stopped staying in the classroom after class. I was looking forward to him showing up again, but as the days went by, he always quickly disappeared into the locker room after school. One day I stopped him in the hallway and asked why he was no longer helping me in class. I told him how much I missed him, and his eyes shone joyfully when he asked me in return: ‘Do you really miss me?’ I explained to him that he was my greatest helper.
“I have a surprise for you”, whispered confidentially. ‘It’s for Christmas.’ And then he quickly ran out of the classroom in embarrassment. He never stayed again after school or after.
The last day of school before Christmas finally arrived. Marek slowly sneaked into the classroom late in the afternoon, hiding something behind his back. “I have a gift for you”, said shyly as I looked up from the department. ‘I hope you like it.’ He reached out, and a tiny wooden box lay on his little palm.
‘That’s beauty, Mark. Is there anything inside?’ I asked, opened the lid and looked there.
‘Yes, but you can’t see it,’ He replied, ‘You can’t even touch it or taste it or smell it. But mom used to say that it always makes a person feel good, warms it up on cold nights, and gives you a sense of security when you’re alone.’
I looked into the empty box. ‘What is it, Mark?’ I asked gently, ‘What is it that always makes me feel good?’
“That’s Love”, whispered quietly, ‘And mom always said it’s best to give it to someone.’ Then he turned quietly and left.
Since then I have a small wooden box on the piano in my room and I just smile at curious friends as they raise their eyebrows in disbelief, explaining that there is love inside. Yes, Christmas is merry, joyful, full of music and singing, goodness and beautiful gifts. But most of all and above all, Christmas is here for love.
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The reason why we sometimes freak out before Christmas and even buy often meaningless gifts for the sake of the surge will be because we can’t express our love in words. tho Harlan Miller
Tips for Christmas gifts: Enemy – forgiveness. opponent – tolerance. My friend – your heart. Customer – service. To all people – love. All children – a good example. To yourself – respect. tho Oren Arnold
Christmas is not only a time of merriment and festive atmosphere. Christmas time is something more. It’s a time of contemplation of eternal things. The spirit of Christmas is the spirit of giving and forgiveness. tho J. C. Penney
