— Feature, Musings —12.24.2024 10:58 PM
A gift of the Magi (and Roxy)
Here’s a Christmas tale.
O. Henry is one of my favorite writers (anyone who reads my stuff will know how much he influenced me). And one of his best-known stories is The Gift of the Magi.
If you haven’t read it, I’m not going to give the story away. Suffice to say it’s about a couple at Christmas, and the gifts they gave each other. The gifts were connected.
This year, I told E. I didn’t want anything, other than something artistic by her. Something creative. I was going to do likewise, but I didn’t tell her that.
Tonight, after Mass, we exchanged presents. What you see on top is the big one she gave me. What you see below is the big one I gave her. We were both very surprised.
It’s a Gift of the Magi thing, with Roxy at the center. Which is kind of perfect, and a perfect Christmas story, too.
So, a merry Christmas to all – and to all a good night!
Perfect. Merry Christmas to you both.
A blessed Christmas to you and E. For the first time in 40 years, we had to cancel Christmas mass. I did not realize how much leading that service defined my Christma mood. But God made up for it. I was listening to Justin’s Christmas message, and appreciated his sincere (I know you’ve taught me to be sceptical!) talk of Christ bringing love, kindness and mercy. I thought, after all, he is a fellow believer and may the Lord bless his new year with surprising new satisfactions. The angel on our tree has not lit up for over 15 years, though I still put her up and plug her in. After my prayer for Justin, she lit up! She is shining over me now. Politics is a dirty business. But grace, kindness and mercy still go on. Merry Christmas, W, E and all who look to you for realism, yet hope.