A Christmas Wish...

       It was a beautiful fall afternoon in Baltimore, and Shy, a registered nurse, had the day off. She loved living here, and so close to the park too, especially during this time of the year when the cherry blossoms were in full bloom. As she reflected, she sat down on a bench in the park, thinking about her family back home. Shy, newly married missed her family dearly, she hadn’t seen them in two years. Shortly after she had graduated, she had gotten a job offer that she just could not resist. So, after their wedding the happy couple moved to Baltimore Maryland. Christmas was coming up in a couple of months, so she facetimed her parents, brother, and twin sister Carrie for their weekly call.

        “Hey, Danny! How’s that old clunker you bought?”

        “Sis, it’s not a clunker, it’s a classic and I finally replaced the transmission, it’s purring like a kitten.”

        “Hey Mom, Hey Dad. I miss your gardens; I’m still having problems with that bunny!”

        “Oh Sis,” exclaimed Carrie, “why not just deem it a pet already? You’re already feeding it!”

        “Well,” Shy sighed, “maybe, it is a cute little thing.”

        “Anyway, what I was really thinking about was Christmas,” said Shy, “what is everyone doing?”

        “We haven’t really thought about it honey. Last year your dad and I volunteered at the local soup kitchen. It was so rewarding and some of those people have very interesting stories that they share.” Replied Shy’s mom.

        “Jen and I are going to dinner, “said Danny, “then a quiet evening, I believe.”

        “I do my usual, handing out handmade gifts at the nursing home where I work.” Said Carrie, “what were you thinking? “

        Shy sighed, “I don’t know, but I really miss you guys and I guess I’m a bit homesick too.”

        “Well sweetheart, you and Andrew are more than welcome to join me and your dad at the soup kitchen. “

        “Or how about joining me passing out gifts, I can always use a hand, “ said Carrie

        That’s when Danny had an epiphany, “Why don’t we all go to the soup kitchen with Mom and Dad? “

        “I don’t know Danny; my patients look forward to my gifts every year. “ said Carrie

        “How about I go with you to deliver the gifts and then we meet Danny and the rest of the family at the soup kitchen? “Asked Shy.

        Carrie screamed in excitement “I can’t wait to see you!”

        When Andrew got home from the hospital, Shy told him about the plan that they’d come up with. Andrew was elated, he said “This is the true meaning of Christmas, giving of yourself.” They began making plans.

        Shy and Andrew decided to fly home to Tampa, Florida a week early, so that they can help with decorating the soup kitchen and help Shy’s Mom and Dad with their Christmas tree. Andrew called his parents and told their plans. They too were elated that they were coming home for a visit.

        As they drove up to the house, Shy recognized her brother and sister’s cars.

        “What are you guys doing here?” Asked Shy as she plopped down on the couch.

        “Seriously Shy, did you really think we’d let you decorate the tree alone? You always eat more popcorn than what we use for the garland!” Replied Carrie

        “The star and ornaments are up in the attic, can someone run up and get them while Dad and I trim the tree?” asked Danny.

        “I’ll get it!” Said Shy, as she ran upstairs, turned on the attic lights, and pulled down the ladder.

        Shy went through a few boxes when she finally found the treasured ornaments. But where is the crystal star? She began looking in every box, she glanced in the corner and there was the star. But underneath the star was Shy’s most treasured doll. She took extra special care of her as a child, so she was still perfect.

        “Can you grab these two boxes from me please Andy?”

        “Of course, hon.” Replied Andy

        “Hey Mom, look what I found! Rebecca was in a corner of the attic. Would it be okay if I took her home with me?” Asked Shy

        “It’s your doll honey, you don’t have to ask.”

        “Thanks Mom!” Shy screamed as she ran to put it in their car.

        It took 5 days and Shy’s entire family’s help to completely decorate the tree and outside. Finally, Christmas arrives, Shy and Carrie, hopped into Carrie’s overstuffed van. 

        “How many blankets did you make this year?” Asked Shy

        “Only four hundred.” She answered.

        “Holy moly, your nursing home must be huge!”

        Carrie laughed, “Not at all, there’s only one hundred and fifty-two patients and since it’s Christmas I usually spend a little time chatting to each one. They like to tell me stories about Christmases when they were my age. I’m planning to hand out the rest at the soup kitchen.”

        They went around to every room and each person told them their favorite Christmas memory. Shy found their stories so heartwarming that she left each visit with tears in her eyes.

        As they headed to the Soup Kitchen, Shy and Carrie discussed how rewarding their morning had been. As Carrie walked into the Soup Kitchen, she proclaimed, “And the best is yet to come! Come on, Shy!”

        As Shy approached the door, she said a little prayer, “God please show me one person to share your love with.”

        As soon as she finished her prayer, she heard her mother calling her over. “Dinner begins in 2 hours, and I need the mashed potatoes prepared. Shy, I need you to finish peeling these potatoes. Carrie, you mash them and Shy will serve it. The rest is being prepared by other volunteers. We’re all chipping in to serve, and Andy’s parents have volunteered to begin the kitchen cleanup until we can join them. Girls, let’s do this!”

        After feeding so many people and handing blankets to homeless people, the lines finally began to dwindle. The last family approaches as Shy cheerfully says, “Merry Christmas!” The father mumbles something Shy didn’t understand.

        “Don’t mind him,” says his wife, “he’s been out of work for five months, so we’re having a difficult Christmas.”

        “Well, hello there!” Shy says to their little girl. “Did Santa get you what you asked for?”

        “No,” she answered, “we don’t have an address, so I guess Santa couldn’t find me or it was too expensive.”

        “Well, what did you ask Santa for?” Asked Shy.

        “I wanted a doll, I didn’t think it’d be too much trouble, honest.”

        As the family walked off to eat their meal, Shy ran out through that back door so that she was unseen by the little girl. She grabbed the doll from the car, ever so thankful that Andrew drove over their car. She also found a pink blanket in the leftovers her sister had.

        Shy came in through the front and walked up to the family. “Did you know that Santa has been outside looking for your daughter? He even described your pigtails! He said to give you this, he’s sorry he took so long but you were difficult to track down.”

        Shy handed over the precious gift wrapped up in the blanket. “Mom, look!” squealed the little girl. Shy looked at the beautiful family crying, she was once again thankful for being a blessing and being blessed that day.

The End

Shy, newly married missed her family dearly, she hadn’t seen them in two years. Shortly after she had graduated, she had gotten a job offer that she just could not resist. So, after their wedding the happy couple moved to Maryland. Christmas was coming up in a couple of months, so she facetimed her parents, brother, and twin sister Carrie for their weekly call.

        “Hey, Danny! How’s that old clunker you bought?”

        “Sis, it’s not a clunker, it’s a classic and I finally replaced the transmission, it’s purring like a kitten.”

        “Hey Mom, hey Dad. I miss your gardens; I’m still having problems with that bunny!”

        “Oh Sis,” exclaimed Carrie, “why not just deem it a pet already? You’re already feeding it!”

        “Well,” Shy sighed, “maybe, it is a cute little thing.”

        “Anyway, what I was really thinking about was Christmas,” said Shy, “what is everyone doing?”

        “We haven’t really thought about it honey. Last year your dad and I volunteered at the local soup kitchen. It was so rewarding and some of those people have very interesting stories that they share.” Replied Shy’s mom.

        “Jen and I are going to dinner, “said Danny, “then a quiet evening, I believe.”

        “I do my usual, handing out handmade gifts at the nursing home where I work.” Said Carrie, “what were you thinking? “

        Shy sighed, “I don’t know, but I really miss you guys and I guess I’m a bit homesick too.”

        “Well sweetheart, you and Andrew are more than welcome to join me and your dad at the soup kitchen. “

        “Or how about joining me passing out gifts, I can always use a hand, “said Carrie

        That’s when Danny had an epiphany, “Why don’t we all go to the soup kitchen with Mom and Dad? “

        “I don’t know Danny; my patients look forward to my gifts every year. “said Carrie

        “How about I go with you to deliver the gifts and then we meet Danny and the rest of the family at the soup kitchen? “Asked Shy.

        Carrie screamed in excitement “I can’t wait to see you!”

        When Andrew got home from the hospital, Shy told him about the plan that they’d come up with. Andrew was elated, he said “This is the true meaning of Christmas, giving of yourself.” They began making plans.

        Shy and Andrew decided to fly home to Tampa, Florida a week early, so that they can help with decorating the soup kitchen and help Shy’s Mom and Dad with their Christmas tree. Andrew called his parents and told their plans. They too were elated that they were coming home for a visit.

        As they drove up to the house, Shy recognized her brother and sister’s cars.

        “What are you guys doing here?” Asked Shy as she plopped down on the couch.

        “Seriously Shy, did you really think we’d let you decorate the tree alone? You always eat more popcorn than what we use for the garland!” Replied Carrie

        “The star and ornaments are up in the attic, can someone run up and get them while Dad and I trim the tree?” asked Danny.

        “I’ll get it!” Said Shy, as she ran upstairs, turned on the attic lights, and pulled down the ladder.

        Shy went through a few boxes when she finally found the treasured ornaments. But where is the crystal star? She began looking in every box, she glanced in the corner and there was the star. But underneath the star was Shy’s most treasured doll. She took extra special care of her as a child, so she was still perfect.

        “Can you grab these two boxes from me please Andy?”

        “Of course, hon.” Replied Andy

        “Hey Mom, look what I found! Rebecca was in a corner of the attic. Would it be okay if I took her home with me?” Asked Shy

        “It’s your doll honey, you don’t have to ask.”

        “Thanks Mom!” Shy screamed as she ran to put it in their car.

        It took 5 days and Shy’s entire family’s help to completely decorate the tree and outside. Finally, Christmas arrives, Shy and Carrie, hopped into Carrie’s overstuffed van. 

        “How many blankets did you make this year?” Asked Shy

        “Only four hundred.” She answered.

        “Holy moly, your nursing home must be huge!”

        Carrie laughed, “Not at all, there’s only one hundred and fifty-two patients and since it’s Christmas I usually spend a little time chatting to each one. They like to tell me stories about Christmases when they were my age. I’m planning to hand out the rest at the soup kitchen.”

        They went around to every room and each person told them their favorite Christmas memory. Shy found their stories so heartwarming that she left each visit with tears in her eyes.

        As they headed to the Soup Kitchen, Shy and Carrie discussed how rewarding their morning had been. As Carrie walked into the Soup Kitchen, she proclaimed, “And the best is yet to come! Come on, Shy!”

        As Shy approached the door, she said a little prayer, “God please show me one person to share your love with.”

        As soon as she finished her prayer, she heard her mother calling her over. “Dinner begins in 2 hours, and I need the mashed potatoes prepared. Shy, I need you to finish peeling these potatoes. Carrie, you mash them and Shy will serve it. The rest is being prepared by other volunteers. We’re all chipping in to serve, and Andy’s parents have volunteered to begin the kitchen cleanup until we can join them. Girls, let’s do this!”

        After feeding so many people and handing blankets to homeless people, the lines finally began to dwindle. The last family approaches as Shy cheerfully says, “Merry Christmas!” The father mumbles something Shy didn’t understand.

        “Don’t mind him,” says his wife, “he’s been out of work for five months, so we’re having a difficult Christmas.”

        “Well, hello there!” Shy says to their little girl. “Did Santa get you what you asked for?”

        “No,” she answered, “we don’t have an address, so I guess Santa couldn’t find me or it was too expensive.”

        “Well, what did you ask Santa for?” Asked Shy.

        “I wanted a doll, I didn’t think it’d be too much trouble, honest.”

        As the family walked off to eat their meal, Shy ran out through that back door so that she was unseen by the little girl. She grabbed the doll from the car, ever so thankful that Andrew drove over their car. She also found a pink blanket in the leftovers her sister had.

        Shy came in through the front and walked up to the family. “Did you know that Santa has been outside looking for your daughter? He even described your pigtails! He said to give you this, he’s sorry he took so long but you were difficult to track down.”

        Shy handed over the precious gift wrapped up in the blanket. “Mom, look!” squealed the little girl. Shy looked at the beautiful family crying, she was once again thankful for being a blessing and being blessed that day.

The End