-or- in the eyes of a child
The build up until Christmas morning with little children is a pressure cooker. The heat, the intensity, the excitement build and build, every day, every minute, every second.
And then in the *POP* of the lid the pressure is released and we sigh collectively.
The presents are unwrapped, the new discoveries are strewn across the floor and the sounds of excitement slowly fade away, often buried beneath the cacophony of the new toys, movies, and music. Yet the memories remain. And there are few things to compare with the memory of the joy on a child's face on Christmas morning as they unwrap their presents.
One of those things that surpasses that by miles is the joy on a child's face as they give.
Our oldest was a perfect example of this on Christmas. She loved her new toys (Grandparents were perhaps a little too generous!), but more than that she loved to give gifts. She was so excited for me to open the game she got for me. She was thrilled out of this world that she had three presents to give her mommy (gotta love dollar stores!). And she was overjoyed to see the smile on our faces as we opened the gifts she had selected.
So, embodied in our little 5 year old, we saw glimpses of that true spirit of Christmas, that joy of giving that, when done with a pure heart, far outshines any receiving we could conceive. To her I write this thank you. You made an old man (in her eyes) feel like a kid again, sharing your joy at giving with me.
