Dear Reader:

Wrapping paper is not my friend. Most years I tussle through the whole wrapping process…the tape sticks to my fingers and it won’t come off as needed or it disappears under another mound of wrapping paper, along with the scissors (never to be seen again)…or I run out of paper before I can get the last present wrapped. The bows flee in terror from my frustrated fussing at myself… so more and more I use bags and tissue paper to wrap gifts or shop where they wrap. (Can’t believe Belk stopped wrapping…come on now!)

The short story of a little girl and her gold wrapping paper always comes back to mind each Christmas as I get ready to “operate”  on another gift “victim.” You might have heard the story long ago, like me, but if you haven’t it is just too sweet not to hear again and remind us of the true meaning of Christmas.

Adaptation of the short story: “The Gold Wrapping Paper”

There once was a man who worked very hard just to keep food on the table for his family. One particular year, a few days before Christmas, he punished his little five-year-old daughter after learning that she had used up the family’s only roll of nice-looking gold wrapping paper.

What angered him even more was that she had wasted all the wrapping paper on one simple little shoe box covering it several times with the paper. He also was upset trying to figure out what she bought to put in it and where she had gotten any money.

On Christmas morning the father was  taken back somewhat when his little girl picked up the heavily wrapped shoe box and gave it to him. “Merry Christmas daddy…this present is for you.”

As the father started to open it he was somewhat humbled by his over-reaction to the wrapping paper incident days earlier as he  now smiled down at his little daughter.

But then when he opened it…his anger got the best of him again. It was empty. What a waste of wrapping paper for NOTHING! He shook his head in disgust and asked where the present was and why it was empty.

The little girl looked up at him with sad tears rolling from her eyes and whispered: “Daddy, it’s not empty. I blew kisses in it until it was all full.”

It took a second for the father to understand and then when he did he too, began to cry with joy for his little girl who understood the real meaning of Christmas… much better than he ever had.

It is told that the father kept this little gold box by his bed for all the years of his life. Whenever he was discouraged or faced difficult problems, he would open the box, take out an imaginary kiss, and remember the love of this beautiful child who had put it there.

In a very real sense, each of us has been given an invisible golden box filled with unconditional love and kisses from our children, family, friends and God. There is no more precious possession anyone could hold. (Short Christmas Stories)

So until tomorrow:

Today is my mother’s birthday…she would be almost 100 if she were still alive today. There is not a single day that goes by that I don’t think of her, miss her, and see a little bit more of her in me. We are our mothers’ daughters.

Best Winnie The Pooh Decorations For Baby Room Products On Wanelo within Winnie The Pooh Christmas Quotes – Best Celebration Day

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

Here are some Christmas cuties… Eva Cate and her good friend, Lily whose grandmother, Lori, gets my vote for best grandmother of the year. She let Eva Cate spend the night last night, they went to the James Island Festival of Lights, ate out…and did all kinds of fun, creative activities. Thank you so much Lori! You brought Christmas early!