My heart is not three sizes too small
But three sizes too big
You wouldn’t be able to tell, though, because I have dreams about ruining Christmas
Before Christmas I do think about stealing all of the presents worldwide to see what would really happen on Christmas day
How would Christmas day shift, how would the lead up to Christmas change if we weren’t seeking and giving trinkets to our most cherished family and friends?
How could the gradual slow down, grinding to a peaceful halt, give us more space to focus on each other?
I would trade your gift for a heartfelt walk or a cup of coffee any day of the week
That’s not to say that I do not appreciate your time and effort in thinking about me, but I also know that time and effort is mixed up in a giant snow globe of holiday stress
I’d like to take that off your plate, and, guess what, you don’t even have to hang with me, if you don’t want to
For the first time in my life this week, I baked bread and sent it overnight in a red bubble wrapped box
I showed up at the post office and was the person buying bubble wrap, tape and boxes on the floor figuring it all out like an unprepared teenager before a big presentation
When it was finally together, I paid for all the things and turned around to find another woman sitting on the floor, in the same, exact predicament.
I looked at her and handed her the tape and bubble wrap
She smiled at me behind her mask, I saw it in the crinkle of her eyes
And I was reminded of the true Christmas spirit, what I am yearning for this time of year
Giving one another what we really need: Kindness, generosity, love