A Grinch Story Revisited

I was only able to give one small gift to anyone this Christmas,
just knitting needles with some yarn... oh that and my myself...
for whatever it is worth.

Some recent calamities, both of my cars broken down with one that is dead,
tow trucks, motels... and a few overdrafts... from wishful thinking later...
I did get to spend Christmas week with my 5 year old child.

On some days, I wish I could just forget about Christmas
with all of its deceptions but how could I steal the magic of that day
from my 5 year old little one? I tried to tell her the story of Jesus;
she told me she already knows about that...
but she was not interested.

She was just anxiously waiting...and waiting... waiting for that day after this day
when finally...finally.... Christmas day would arrive... I sigh...
but what am I to say? So I shut my mouth and let her talk about reindeer and elves...

I have been stranded with my daughter for five days now with no vehicle...
no money... And I say stranded but there is no injury for the stranding...
But still I am a little flustered with her as she is just bouncing
and bouncing and bouncing off of the walls...

I am afraid she has my ADD/ADHD situation
in spite of her coming out of her mother's womb
as a calm child with a delightful disposition.


It being too cold to go outside for more than a few moments...
I have had to play the prince
with her prince doll, or a dog, then a cat...
which I do reluctantly do... but she demands that I play...
and I have no gift to give her but myself...
so I play... and I play... and I play...

Knocking over things, refusing to eat
anything but Christmas treats...
my baby is a mess but somehow...

some way oh through it all,
I have gotten to know her..
my little one.. in some wonderful ways.
These are some beautiful words she had to say;

"Daddy, I love you all the way to heaven" and then she said...
"I love you all the way back to 'erf;' "Your the best daddy I ever had."
And I laughed... She also asked me yesterday;
"Daddy, what does a soul look like?" she said.

She wanted me to know that she loved me and
I felt in my heart how important to her I was to her
in those precious few moments shared.

My bouncy, bubbly and wonderful child said she had a dream
the night before Christmas Eve;
I inquired as to what it was that she dreamed about
and she said to me that she dreamed
it was Christmas... Christmas every day of the year...
and in her dream each day..every day that it snowed...

I thought Oh No! No... not snow! but I didn't say a word...
but I wanted to tell her....explain that where we live,
it snows only once..once only every few years...

Then she danced and she sang and she wandered off out of sight...
to look for her dolls... I looked out the window
and then to my surprise... as if by some Christmas magic...
a snow flurry blew in and some snowflakes as snowflakes floated by.

She ran to the window...She and shouted with glee...
It's snowing...it's snowing... it's snowing you see!
and just for a moment, I couldn't help but let down my guard...
and then and even until now my frozen heart for Christmas
thawed.

I opened my gift from her on Christmas day and what did I see
but her drawing of herself playing with me...
and then I noticed at oncehow when she drew herself...
she would draw a great big heart
where a tiny heart should be. She is such an angel and
says such wonderful things to me...

But even now as I write you, I am being hailed once again
to play the prince... to dance with her maiden doll at the ball...
She bows and she curtsy's and says after you,
I just said wait a moment until I press send to send this message through...

I then reflected on all the of things going wrong in the world and thought;
I can't help but believe it might not matter what happens in this world
of broken cars and broken hearts this day; things are going to be alright.

I hope, if you practice Christmas... or even if not
that these days...
when it is too cold to spend too much time outside
are spent within... and shared with those...
those that you love.

From "The Grinch" I meant rudi... Merry Christmas to All... Tweet