I imagine we all love and cherish the ornaments our kids make over the years. I have several that I am particularly fond of, but one makes me cry every year.
My mil died on March 8, 1999. October of 1999 my mother, who had fought cervical cancer two years prior, began feeling sick. She had trouble breathing and was being treated with Cortisone and finally needed oxygen all the time. She was getting weaker, lost weight and went in for a lung biopsy in November. She continued going downhill and I couldn't help but be worried. The previous Christmas was Hell with my mil so ill. It took its toll on the family. My DD was away at college and my other child, my ds, was only 10 years old. I tried to keep how worried I was from him, but as my mom lived with us, and she had always been my soul mate, it was hard to not let him know how scared I was.
The day he had art class for the last time before Christmas he brought home something all wrapped up for me. (He always thought about others! He was in first grade and his teacher ran "Town" ever Friday afternoon. Each child had a job, got a salary, and could spend what they had left after paying taxes, etc. Kids ran shops like Nail salons where girls could get nails done, a "cafe" sold treats, and parents sent in items for a variety store. My do always brought home something for me, my mother, or his sister! He never got anything for himself, even tho I begged him to!) I figured he had gotten something from Town for me so I put it under the tree to open with the other presents.
Christmas Eve, my ds asked why I didn't like what he made me! I reminded him I like to keep all my things to open Christmas morning. He told me it was FOR Christmas not a present. So, I opened it and found a large piece of Eucalyptus entwined with red yarn, cinnamon, and mini pine cones. It had a sting to hand it with. It really was beautiful and I began to cry. He hugged me and said, " Mommy, hang this on the tree and we won't have any more troubles, ever again!"
I guess even tho I hadn't told him that my mother was ill, much less terminal, he knew I was sad. I tried to keep things upbeat and normal, as did my mother, who didn't know how bad it was until after Christmas. My do just knew we all needed something to take away out troubles!
I don't know how I forget about it each year, but when I open the box and unwrap that ornament every year, I still cry! It's been nearly 20 years but the tremendous empathy my little boy had at a time when it was most important, still blows my mind! My mother died February 22, 2000, just one week after his birthday. With my DD away at college I can honestly say I could not have made it through any of it without him! I have been so greatly blessed with my two children and my granddaughter! We have always been an extremely close family and have been through more bad times than I want to recount. But, even tho we have had all the bad times, we have had good times, too. Not one of the good times would have even mattered if my family hadn't been there to share the good with me.
I hate to do it, but I will wrap the ornament up very carefully again, put it away, and cry again next year when I see it again! Happy and healthy new year to all and may all of us never have "troubles ever again!"
Never underestimate the power of kindness.
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