My ten year old daughter came home from school one day overcome with sadness.  You see, earlier in the day she visited the little country store at their school where they were allowed to buy items for their family members for Christmas.  My daughter told about how she picked out the perfect gift for me, one she knew I would have loved.  As she was showing it to her friend, of course her friend asked to hold it.  As she was doing so, it slipped from her hands and crashed to the floor.  Her classmate said she was sorry, but there was no amount of super glue in the world that would put that little present back together.

As my daughter was telling me this story, I took her into my arms and reassured her that it was the thought that counts, and I appreciate her thinking of me.  I hugged her tightly and gave her a reassuring kiss on her forehead and touched the tip of her nose with my finger in hopes to see a smile form across her lips.  It took a few minutes, but finally, she did smile.  Then she went off into her room.

Two nights ago, she insisted that I had to open a present from her.  I was hesitant as I like to save my presents for Christmas Day.

Growing up, my parents would never allow us to open just one present before Christmas.  They had very little money to buy gifts with, so every gift was needed to remain under the tree until Christmas Day.  That has been instilled in me through the years, but with my own children, I have made allowances where they can open a gift two days before Christmas and on Christmas Eve, but the rest of the presents must remain for Christmas Day.

My daughter could wait no longer for me to open the gift, so she brought it to me and pleaded with her puppy dog eyes and begged for me to open it.  I sat Indian style on the floor with her seated ever so excitedly beside me as she placed the little package in my hands.  She wrapped it herself in yellow paper with brightly colored polka dots on it.  The paper was crumpled by her sweet little hands that took their time to wrap this gift for me.  And there she sat in front of me with the widest smile as she urged, “OPEN IT, Mama!”

And so I did.

My husband and teenager daughter were gathered around that evening as I opened the gift, and they saw what I cradled there in the palm of my hands after opening this gift from my precious daughter.  A set of angel wings.

I knew instantly that this was all that remained intact from the gift she was so excited to have purchased for me before.  The one that she showed her friends; the one that came crashing to the floor as her little face dropped upon seeing it broken and shattered … all except the little angel wings.

I held them in my hands and proudly showed them to my husband and daughter but not before I took my ten year old in my arms and gave her the longest hug as I whispered my thanks and appreciation in her little ears.

My husband was a tad bit confused at first as to why I only had angel wings.  I did not make a big deal about it at all, though, as to it “just” being angel wings.  Instead, I took the gift that my sweet darling daughter had given me and placed it along with the ornaments on our tree.

I told her how much I love my angel wings.  She started talking about how she wishes it wouldn’t have gotten broken as I would have loved it.  I took her little hands in my own and looked her straight into her beautiful sea blue eyes as I told her that I do love it … and I love her.

I love the giver!

I truly do!

She has the biggest heart.  This little girl was so worried about having no gifts to give to her family about a week ago.  I told her that she gives us all we need:  love.  Still, she was stressing over not having anything to give, so I told her that we would make sure  that she had gifts under the tree for her sister and her father, and so I went shopping for gifts just for them from her.  In the meantime, though, she went to work in her room for two days on pictures that she drew with her own little hands.  She was dedicated to her drawings and making sure to give us gifts that would mean something to us, and they truly did!

She had us gather around the Christmas tree to open these gifts from her.  As we sat Indian style once more, I told her father and sister how she really put a lot into these gifts.  She took a lot of time drawing them and making sure they were “just right.”  They thanked her for them before they ever opened them.

And then, the magic appeared as we unfolded the little pieces of paper that contained our daughter’s masterpieces!

For me, she drew two of our horses that she knows I love.  Arizona and Sugar!

For her sister, she drew the nativity scene as that is the true meaning of Christmas and why we celebrate.  The birth of Christ Our Lord!

For her father, she drew Elvis.  Because he absolutely loves all things Elvis!

Oh this little ten year old daughter of mine blessed our hearts and souls.

It’s not about broken pieces or the remaining angel wings, and it’s not about the presents or lack thereof under the Christmas tree.  It’s about her heart that is so loving and caring.  It’s about her desire to give, although she thought she had very little to give.  She has no idea the impact that she has had on our lives in the ten years we have been blessed to have her with us.  She thrills my heart and soul and impresses me that even at this very young age, she thought of others instead of herself.

My oldest daughter came out of her room last night bearing this gift.  How sweet that she thought of all of our readers here to wish them a Merry Christmas!

This Christmas, we hope you will focus more on the giver of the gift instead of the gifts that you receive.

Love the giver!

I know we sure do!