by
Christine Grothe
Christmas is
a time for joyous celebrations,
children laughing and
singing and events
that bring people together.
But for us, that time
ceased to exist after
the death of our third child.
Christmas became yet another
time to remember that our littlest
angel was no longer with us.
Both of our children were very
sad. There was no light in
their eyes over presents,
Santa, music or even Christmas
cookies. All they wanted
was their sister back.
My husband and I were also
very sad, both at the loss
of our daughter and the
loss of innocence in our
living children's eyes.
We longed to see some bit
of happiness in their faces.
Christmas had become so very
painful, something to endure
rather than something to celebrate.
This is our third Christmas
without Nora and the sadness
still fills the air. My
husband and I have been
trying so hard to make
this one different. The
sadness is still there
but we want a tiny light
back in their eyes, after
all they are children.
We had to find a way to
let the magic back into
Christmas.
We soon discovered that
Christmas magic is what
we make it. It is not the
craziness of the mall,
furiously trying to get
cards out, wrapping presents
or baking all hours of
the morning. We wanted
our Christmas magic to
be about helping others,
bringing to the needy the
magic of Christmas. The
children loved this idea
and soon the holiday took
on a life of its own. We
donated gently used toys,
new toys and a Christmas
tree to the needy. We helped
out others along the way
that needed a helping hand.
The children soon found
their own magic and started
to have a light in their
eyes.
The children eventually
sat down and wrote their
letters to Santa. There
was a mailbox at the mall
and they were assured Santa
would indeed write back.
Each child wrote their
own letter and each letter
spoke of very little for
them, but more for others,
including their sister
in heaven. Then a week
later, we received our
own Christmas miracle.
We opened the mail to find
a letter from Santa addressed
to both children. As they
read the letter, tears
streamed from their faces
as well as their parents
faces.
Dear Corey and Abby,
I just finished reading
the beautiful letters
and lists you sent me.
What good children you've
been all year long! And,
it makes me proud that
you thought to ask for
presents for other people,
including your dog! I
know how good you have
been this year- I have
been watching and I will
try my hardest to give
you everything on your
lists. But you must promise
that you will be good
and be extra nice to
your family and friends.
I will get something
special for your sister
in heaven. Just know
that she is watching
down over you and protecting
you and if you are ever
missing her, you can
go outside and look for
the brightest star in
the sky, make a wish
in your heart and send
it to that star and she
will hear you.
Mrs. Claus needs my
help packing the sleigh,
so I must go now.
I hope you have a
very merry Christmas.
Love Santa Claus
Our own Christmas miracle
had arrived. This letter
touched the heart of our
family in a way that we
thought was impossible.
Every time we pull this
letter out to read, we
still cry. It is a beautiful
letter written by a beautiful
person who is obviously
filled with the Christmas
spirit. The letter had
the ability to bring the
magic of Christmas back
into our lives, and the
light back into our children's
eyes. Though we still miss
Nora every day, we are
able to celebrate this
holiday with the children
and include Nora in our
own special ways.
Before Nora died, our
family had no idea what
Christmas was truly about.
It took our littlest angel
to show us the true meaning
of the season, the greatest
gift she could have ever
given to us.
And to Santa, thank you
for the beautiful letter,
a most treasured, magical
gift that brought the light
back to my children's eyes.
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