My oldest son Jeff saw my blog post on my mother as cardinal and sent me a cardinal brooch, two cardinals, male and female set among, I want to say fragrant, because I feel I can smell them, beautiful Autumn leaves.
Today, my husband was going through his computer files and came across this story, written by our youngest son Chris, when he was 9. Chris reads it today and finds it sad. I, too, shed a tear, but I don't think it is a tear of sadness, but more one of beauty and the love of exchange.
The mother is gifted to provide a womb, and a child emerges, and the exchange of gifts continues back and forth, like the passing of a baton from one boat to another as both boats float down a river, serene, at times, and tumultuous, too, and still the baton is passed, or sometimes tossed, back and forth.
For, me, this story embodies the spirit of Christmas, the spirit, no matter one's religion or beliefs, the spirit of giving and exchange.
C H R I S T M A S
One snowy Christmas day a bunny was hopping along. He was sad because he didn't have a family. So that night, all of the animals of the forest were celebrating with their families. But the little bunny had no family so he just sat in the snow all alone while the other families feasted. The bunny couldn't understand why he didn't have a family. He was soft and could hop. But he just wasn't important.
Then he got an idea. He would ask someone if he could feast with them. So he asked the birds. They said "You may come if you can fly." But he couldn't fly so he went to Beaver's house. His family said "You may come if you can swim." But, alas, he couldn't swim so he kept going. He went to about 50 different houses that night but they couldn't let him in for one way or another. So he sat down and cried. He was a failure. Then he got another idea. He gave every animal a present. The beavers got some sticks, the birds got nice soft leaves for the bottom of their nest, and the other animals got something, too. He sat down again. But this time he was happy. All of a sudden, two baby mice appeared, shivering and exhausted. Then the bunny thought of his soft fur. So he cuddled up with the two mice and fell asleep. In the morning, all the animals fixed their houses with the presents and went in search for the mice. So they found the dead bunny and the safe little mice under the soft, warm fur of the bunny.
But from that Christmas on, the animals always had a present appear by their door on Christmas morning and they still do.
By Chris Edgett 12/10/86