The meaning of Christmas

I know I said I would be away from blogging until after the new year. But there is something I have to post about because it personifies the true meaning of friendship and Christmas.

Last Thursday, I posted part of my current manuscript playfully dubbed the Big “M.” It was a scene from my childhood. The chapter still feels like a lifetime away on some days, yet there are other times when such memories are still poignant to the heart.

Well, one of my blog readers happens to be a school principal. He read my story chapter and then visited a fourth grade class. He told them the meaning of it - that during my grade school days I was an outsider looking in - and about how important it is to always treat other kids well while being good friends.

Once hearing this, the children did a marvelous thing. The class took those words of friendship to heart. They all decided to make holiday cards with their well wishes. Then this principal packaged these cards and mailed them out . . .

. . . to me.

You cannot imagine the extraordinary good feelings I had when opening this large envelope and finding 27 holiday cards addressed to me. It’s . . . it’s still overwhelming to think about it even now. What a wonderful thing to open each card and take pride in all their work and to read their words without wetting the paper with my tears! Absolutely incredible.

Thank you, Students and Faculty. Your show of love and kindness is the true meaning of this holiday and how the simplest greetings can lead to the greatest gifts for someone. This truly was the best Christmas present I have ever gotten in my entire life.

And I wish to share this with all my readers. Please scroll below to view all the cards. This is my gift for all of you. Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas, and Feliz Navidad to all my friends! (Please click on each collage to enlarge.)

Merry Christmas!