These pictures are from last Christmas, 2010.
Last Christmas my children were age 4 & 1.5. Ava understood when she went to sleep the night before, that the next morning would be Christmas. Anouk however only really grasped it was a special day when she was in it…
We watched as they tore the paper off gifts…
I enjoyed their expressions & their appreciation for every little thing they discovered behind the wrapping paper…
I smiled at the little feet that didn’t quite reach the ground…
We paused for them to dance with their new loves…
Anouk was happy to just watch Ava open gifts and didn’t look for any more of her own…
and then after they were all opened, she warmed up…
and they danced…
What I hadn’t expected was that in amongst all the surprises we were giving our girls, I looked under the tree & found some pieces of paper with the words ‘mum’ & ‘dad’ on them….
Ava had drawn pictures for Pete & I. She had folded them in half, taped them closed, put christmas labels on them, added our names and hidden them under the tree, days before Christmas. I asked her if anyone had helped her do this & she said she had done it all on her own. She had just turned four & was only just learning to write the words ’mum’ & ‘dad’. It was humbling to imagine that she knew Christmas was coming & from her own heart she placed something under the tree for each of us…. something she could give us without needing any help from anyone. Her gift didn’t need to compare to anything else under the tree. She just gave what she could.
It was the most beautiful Christmas morning surprise. The gift to me was seeing my 4 year old’s heart. This Christmas, while it’s easy to rush through part of the day as you get the family dressed, set the table, travel to Grandma’s, slice the ham, roast the veggies, take a family picture, exchange gifts, fill glasses, assemble toys etc…. don’t overlook the little things or the little one’s that are a constant gift in our lives. Be inspired that if you don’t have much to give in the way of material things, there are so many other ways to give to others. Ways that often mean more than a gift that can be wrapped. This Christmas keep your eyes opened for the gifts that money can’t buy.