Thanksgiving Kindness

Several years ago my mother was in the hospital nearing the end of a courageous battle with cancer.  She would not be coming home again.  The doctor had her on morphine and thankfully she was not in any pain. Except for a few special moments, she did not appear to be aware of our presence.  It was a long and painful week and my brothers and I spent our time sitting by her bedside, holding her hand and making sure she was never alone. It is a vigil no one wants to keep and the sadness ran deep.

Sometimes people in your life become extra special people when their kindness in times of distress gives new meaning to the act of loving and caring for others.  Thanksgiving had arrived that same week and of course we could not give any thought to a holiday much less celebrating with a meal.  We had barely eaten at all during the last several days. On Thanksgiving day, my sister-in-law's parents prepared one of the most beautiful Thanksgiving dinners we have ever had.  It was for all of us, my brothers, my children, my husband and me.  Their house and table were filled with a meal made completely from scratch right down to the apple pies.  A fire was burning bright and warm for us.  Their best silver was shined and polished, candles were lit, and they opened their arms and hearts to us who were grieving deeply. I felt a moment of peace wash over me in their home. Had it not been for them, we would not have eaten that Thanksgiving much less eaten such a beautiful meal complete with love and friendship.

I will always be grateful for their kindness and am happy to say that they remain a special part of our lives.-Linda, NJ

The Red Polish

When I was a little girl of about five years old, I became very aware of how pretty and feminine my mother was.  It bothered me that she was so glamorous looking and I was so plain.  I especially loved her red nail polish.

One day I asked my dad why she was so beautiful and I was not. I think he was shocked that I was so aware of physical appearances at such a young age and even more so that I wanted to be anything more than the little five year old I was.  I can almost recall the sadness on his face as he realized that I didn't think I was pretty.  Without a doubt, he already thought I was beautiful.  He pressed me further and learned that it was the red nail polish and lipstick that I was smitten with. I thought that if I could wear those things I would suddenly be perfectly beautiful just like my mother was. I cried a little bit while we were talking.

Several days later, on a rainy Sunday, my father presented me with a gift.  I was very excited and could hardly stand the suspense.  It wasn't my birthday so I couldn't imagine why I was receiving a gift all wrapped up and tied with a bow.  He smiled at me as I ripped the paper open.  Inside was a red bag, quilted, with a silver zipper.  I opened the zipper and inside were two tubes of lipstick, red and pink, red nail polish, a package of emery boards, and a small bottle of hand lotion.

We opened the red polish and he painted my nails and then carefully applied just a little bit of lipstick for me. I thought I looked just as beautiful as my mother.  It was a special afternoon.  I knew in my young mind that he wanted to make a little wish of mine come true and I realized more than ever before how much he loved me.- Ann, NY

The Ornament

Like many high school relationships, I thought it was forever, that is until I matured a little at twenty.  He and I were not a good match and I had grown up enough to figure that out.  Still, it was painful because I loved his family and would miss them very much.  It was September and I broke up with my boyfriend of three years just before I went back to college.  It was not easy.  At the end of that semester, while home on break, his mother called me just before Christmas to say that her son was not at home and would I please come see her for a little while.  I was happy to go and we hugged and cried.  She said that the last time she saw me walk out their front door, she knew it was over.  It was written across my face, she said.  She had a gift for me, a heartfelt, I will miss you, I loved you as a daughter gift.  Inside a red velvet box was the most beautiful Christmas ornament I had ever seen.  It was a Celtic infinity knot which represents no beginning and no end.  The love she felt for me would always be, she said.  I had been worried that she would be angry that I had hurt her son but she wasn’t and understood that I had to move on.  She said that in time I would think of her less as my life changed, but hoped that with an ornament I would remember each year at Christmastime that she had loved me.  It’s been a long, long time and I smile every year as I reach for the red velvet box with the beautiful ornament and remember the love and kindness that was given to me.-Rachel (OH)