Mabel Adams was sitting in the day room at the
Rest of Your Life retirement home when the children came in. She
smiled and so did all the others in the room except for two who
didn’t know what was going on.
The old-timers in the home knew the kids were coming and had put up
Christmas decorations around in the day room and on the doors of
their own small apartments and on themselves. Mabel had been
reminded several times by the staff that morning that the kids were
coming over, this being necessary as Mabel’s memory isn’t what it
used to be. And she put a sprig of imitation holly in her hair and
tied a red ribbon on the other side.
The little girl smiled and walked over to Mabel.
“Are you a grandma?” she asked.
“Why, yes dear, I am.”
“I brought you a present, Grandma,” she said, handing a box to
Mabel. Mabel opened it and was delighted at the sandalwood-scented
hankies inside.
“Why thank you so much, Honey!” she said. “And what is your name?” [to top of second
column] |
“I’m Candice. I’m four.”
“Well, Candice, merry Christmas to you. Have you been here before?”
“Well … no, I guess. Mom said
this is where the grandmas are and we can have fun bringing presents
to the grandmas.”
“I see,” Mabel said. “Well, Candice, come over here, dear, and let
me give you a hug. There!”
Sometimes, it isn’t the cost of the hankies, or the fun wrapping
them up.
Sometimes it’s just a child’s smile and a small taste of love that
makes us treasure Christmas.
[Text from file received from
Slim Randles]
Enjoy this column? Good. Give some money to a charity of your
choice and wish them a Merry Christmas.
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