The Christmas spirit bug hit me a few days ago, and I was in the mood to write a story, and so doing, resume my hiatus from my #30daychallenge blogging. I know (for the millionth time) that I haven't been doing this faithfully, but I promise I will try! December has been a really busy month for me, so hope that you who are reading this understands!
Anyway I shall not go on and on like an old hag! Shall leave all of you with this short Christmas story, am actually really excited to share it with you all even though it may not be up to standards. Your biggest present to me would be to show some support and read on =P Haha!
#30daychallenge Day 12
A Special Christmas Post!
"The Heart of Christmas"
Faith sat by the sandbox at the
playground she used to frequent since she was a kid. Between her
fingers she fiddled with an item of gold, it's shiny color glinting
in the late afternoon sun. Finally, she had waited all week for the
sun to come out from its hiding place among the clouds, providing
some warmth to the otherwise cold winter season. There was nothing
better than experiencing the shining sun on your back while being
able to spot pure white snow on the ground at the same time. Faith
smiled to herself, her favorite time of the year was here again.
Santa isn't real. The little girl
repeated to herself silently after being chided by her mother earlier
that morning. Faith wanted that puppy so badly. She had been watching
TV and the actor had announced with glee, “As long as you tell
Santa Claus your wishes, he will surely grant it to all you good
children!” Faith had been so excited, she talked to Santa every
single night before she fell asleep for an entire month. Christmas
Eve, she got up extra early, rushed down the stairs two at a time,
dashed to the Christmas tree, her eyes spotting that one big package
that was waiting for her. She ripped open the package full of
anticipation, only to see a toy unicorn that could blink its beady
black eyes. Disappointment swelled within her and tears started to
form. That Christmas Eve, Faith wasn't happy at all. Santa Claus
wasn't real and wishes didn't come true.
Faith wiped her tears away as she heard
a knock on the front door. Sniffing, she opened the door to find her
beloved grandmother standing on the porch, wrapped in a maroon scarf
and wearing a big grin on her face. Faith instantly brightened, her
grandmother stayed at the other end of the city and hardly came to
visit! Faith pulled her grandmother's hand, urging her to come into
the house and away from the cold. As grandma unwound her scarf, she
gazed fondly at Faith.
“Someone's been crying, I see! Tell
grandma what can possibly make my princess sad on this happy occasion?” And Faith poured out her story, dismay evident in her
voice. She was puzzled when grandma gave her a bemused look, and then
laughed. Why did grandma find it funny? It wasn't!
“Oh, my dear. Santa Claus isn't real,
that's true. But just because of that, would you hate Christmas? It's
your favorite holiday after all.” Faith gave her grandma's words
some thought. She loved Christmas. Why? And then she began to
understand. Santa Claus didn't define Christmas. Santa Claus wasn't
even that big a part of why she loved Christmas.
She loved playing in the knee-deep
snow. She loved building snowmen and snow castles out in the front
garden. She loved how she and her mother would put up the Christmas
tree and dig up all the shiny baubles to hang on the shedding
branches. She loved waking up on Christmas Eve morning and spotting
all the presents below the tree, but more than that, she loved how
all the family would sit beside the tree, tearing wrapping paper
apart and appreciating their gifts together, and then having a paper ball fight afterwards. She loved that grandma came to visit and
always gave her that loving smile which made her feel fuzzy inside.
And most of all, she loved the feeling of warmth and comfort when the
entire family sat down to eat dinner together on the evening of
Christmas day itself. Her brother would give her the biggest portion
of turkey knowing that was her favorite Christmas food. And after that, her parents would specially come up to her room, clear all the
presents she had received off her bed, sit by her side and give her a
goodnight kiss. These were all the reasons why she loved Christmas,
not some silly Santa Claus.
“And besides, who needs Santa Claus
when you have your grandma?” Grandma's smiled seemed to have
broadened, as she pulled something from behind her back. Faith was
eager to see what her grandma had brought her, and her spirits lifted
just that little bit. Grandma handed her a package wrapped in red
wrapping paper, and Faith could hardly contain her excitement as she
tore off the paper. Before her eyes was a box of Ferero Rocher. Faith
was confused, why had her grandma get her a box of chocolates? She
could get them at the snack store just a street away from her house
anytime.
“Why, grandma?” Faith asked, her eyes wide with curiosity.
“Do you know that Ferero Rocher has
many layers? After eating the first layer of almond-coated chocolate,
we then go on to eat the biscuit wafer, which covers the hardened
milk chocolate layer, and beneath that, at the center of it all, is
the walnut. Christmas is just like a Ferero Rocher, with many layers
to it. When we think of Christmas, we think of material things like
presents, Christmas trees, turkey and log cakes. All these make up
the outer layers of what Christmas means. But when we look beyond all
of that, we see that there is actually more. All that you mentioned
before, the fuzzy feeling you get when the family sits down to
dinner, the satisfaction you get when building snowmen in the snow,
the way your face lights up when you open the door and see me
standing in front of you in the winter cold, and likewise, the warmth
I feel when I see you too, all these are the core of Christmas. When
you eat the chocolate, remember what I've told you today my dear, and
remember what Christmas truly means to you.”
Faith listened intently, nodding in
agreement as her grandma spoke to her tenderly. She got it now. It
didn't matter if there wasn't any Santa Claus with his flying
reindeer. It didn't even matter if she didn't get her puppy wish
granted this time. Her Christmas wish had come true. The heart of
Christmas had come to her.
18th December 2013
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Maybe you might be questioning : Why Ferero Rocher?
Actually the above story is inspired by something very personal to me, but to explain it means to launch into another long-winded story altogether. All I shall summarize is that even though everyone is so caught up in buying gifts for loved ones and other various preparations during this festive season, let us not be too carried away by the commercialization of this holiday period to forget the true meaning of Christmas: That God so loved the world He sent His son Jesus Christ to die for our sins. And in doing so, He has displayed His great love for all of us on earth. In the same way, let's remember to pay it forward and show our love to the people around us as well! Without love, there won't be any Christmas season in the first place.
Blessed holidays everyone! ^^
