Christmas Miracle

Letter to my son,

As the world around you changes, as you grow and discover answers to some of your questions, and when more questions arise within your heart than answers, I wanted you to be certain of a few things.

I want you to know I love you. I may not like your decisions. I may verbalize my frustrations. I may need time away from you to understand you better. Always know in your heart that I love you. You are my child and that bond of love will never be broken.

I want you to know I cannot protect you from life’s pain. I will try to buffer, cushion, and extend myself in harm’s way in order to ease your path. I will try to provide you with emotional tools and personal support so that pain does not overwhelm or consume you. Pain is a part of life, though. And life is not meant to be easy. Cliché, but true.

And I want you to know I believe in miracles.

Long ago, I thought I had lost the Christmas gift I had been given as a child. The warmth of the season fell all around me but could not penetrate my heart. I felt alone and forgotten.

I walked out in the cold on a Christmas night six years ago and a miracle occurred. You. I knew you would enter my life. I knew before anyone else knew. I held the greatest Christmas gift that I had ever received within me. It was a child. It was love. It was you.

You are my Christmas miracle.

When I cry on Christmas night, you’ll know my tears are filled with joy. And when I hold you just a little bit tighter for a little bit longer, you’ll know this is your story, the story of love, the story of a miracle that occurred on Christmas.