From the Heart
When I was 14 years old (same age as my daughter is
today), my Mom and I didn't have money for a Christmas
dinner, much less gifts. I knew she was sad about it and I
was determined we wouldn't let it get us down. Homemade
gifts are nice but I wasn't very imaginative and too broke
for supplies. I decided to give my Mom something I treasured
myself -- the one nice piece of jewelry I owned, a gold
cross necklace.
I cleaned it, made sure there were no knots in the chain and
wrapped it in the prettiest paper I could find. I was so
excited, I couldn't wait for her to open it. Single moms
have it hard (as I know first hand now) and I really wanted
to see her smile.
We always opened our gifts on Christmas Eve night and that
afternoon, I could wait no longer. I asked if we could "have
Christmas" early. I anticipated that Christmas more than
when I knew I was getting a lot of nice gifts. I didn't
expect to get anything that year. It was about giving.
I handed her the little box, hugged and kissed her and
wished her a Merry Christmas. I waited anxiously for her to
open it but she just sat there with the box in her hands and
looked at it. I remember the look on Mom's face was a
mixture of sadness and serenity. She knew her greatest gift
to me was her love.
After what seemed a long time, she looked at me and said, "I
have something for you too." She reached into her pocket,
pulled out another small box, placed it in my hands, and
told me although it was not much, it was filled with love.
I was quite curious and little scared. I knew money was
tight and hoped Mom hadn't spent money on something we
couldn't afford. There was a little velvet box inside and
when I lifted the lid, there was a tiny ring with a diamond
chip in the center. In a note, she told me the ring was 23
years old, she hoped it brought me good luck...and "I love
you."
I got a huge lump in my throat and looked at her. She smiled
and told me it had been her wedding band from my dad. It was
now mine. I slipped it on my finger and hugged my Mom.
She opened my gift and when she saw the necklace, big tears
filled her eyes. She asked me to put it on her. She held the
necklace and told me she thought it was our best Christmas
ever. I could only nod my head in agreement.
This Christmas, I give thanks for Mom and treasure every
memory we shared. You see, my Mom has advanced Alzheimer's
disease and no longer knows me. But I look at "our" ring and
remember her gentle, wise spirit and give thanks God blessed
me with her.
But that's not the end of the story. Our home was
burglarized four years ago. One of the items stolen was that
little ring. I had left all my jewelry at home for
safekeeping because it was Memorial Day weekend and I was
going to the lake. I was totally heart broken when I found
out the ring was gone. Of course, so were her diamond rings,
my wedding band, engagement ring, etc., but it was THAT ring
I grieved for the most.
I wrote a letter to our local paper and begged whoever stole
it to "PLEASE return it by mail anonymously." A few weeks
went by with no response and then one day a police detective
showed up at my door. He held out a Kleenex and asked me to
identify the item inside. It was my ring! I have never found
out where or how he got it but it remains on my finger to
this day.
So as we all go through the holidays, let us remember it's
what we give from the heart that holds the most value.
Nancy nursnan1@yahoo.com