The gift

 

Christmas opens my heart so wide it is painful.

It is as though I can feel a thousand times more than normal and everything touches me deeply.

I look at the truly good people in this world, the ones who not only give, but think and do loving things all the time. People who don't just act nice, but ARE nice and they break my heart. I want to wrap them up and keep them safe forever.

I wonder what my son will be when he is old and frail and dependent on others. Will they be kind to him? Will they treat him gently and love him for real, not just as part of some job they do?

He gives and gives and gives. 

I have never known anyone with less who gives so much, all the time. Stopping to help a woman on the road and giving her one of his bungee cords to keep her load on her car. Spending time listening to people who need to be heard. Caring for his family day and night even when he is worn out or not feeling well. Caring for animals as though they were people. There isn't a mean bone in his body. No passive aggressive actions, no doing for appearances sake only. He is the real thing.

But not all people value that. The world is more inclined to care for the rich man, the showy man, the man who whines and complains.

I just want my son to meet people like him when he is old and fragile. He has earned that. If I could pick a Christmas gift, that would be it.