It has been many years since I was away from home on Christmas Eve.
Christmas is the one holiday I look forward to the most, year after year.
There is something magical about it.
I feel more hopeful than any other day.
I feel more connected to self and those around me.
I feel a deep sense of appreciation for how far I have come.
This year, I had the privilege of spending it with a friend of mine and his family.
Thousands of miles away.
In a country I’ve never been to before.
I was curious to see how such time would be received.
Everyday leading up to Christmas Eve, one of the kids would scream, “Ho ho ho!”
He’d stand at the bottom of the stairs, repeating it until someone else would say, “Ho ho ho” back to him.
I couldn’t help, but smile every time I heard him.
Tears of joy would build up in the front of my eyes.
He helped me reconnect to my inner child.
The times when I’d do similar things and could care less how I’d be perceived to the outside world.
The times of pure happiness.
Christmas Eve brought a whole other set of memories.
Seeing the excitement in kids’ eyes as they followed Santa’s tracks from the chimney to the Christmas tree was an experience money couldn’t buy.
It reminded me of the times I’d sit in my room, waiting anxiously for what I’d find under the Christmas tree the following morning.
Although, gift giving has evolved for me over the years, it still brings back memories.
This year, Christmas was different AND beautiful!!!
All due to my friend’s generosity of opening a door to what was once stranger to now a friend 🙏
