[00:05.65]Christmas is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for reuniting with family and friends, for brightly decorated packages.
[00:16.43]But mostly, Christmas is for love. I had not believed this until a small elf-like student gave me a wonderful gift on Christmas.
[00:27.43]Mark was an 11 year old orphan. He was a sweet and gentle child.
[00:32.55]I had not noticed Mark particularly until he began staying after class each day to help me straighten up the room.
[00:40.82]We did this quietly, not speaking much.
[00:43.98]When we did talk, Mark spoke mostly of his mother.
[00:48.01]Though he was quite small when she died, he remembered a kind, gentle, loving woman.
[00:53.89]As Christmas drew near however, Mark failed to stay after school each day.
[00:59.23]I looked forward to his coming, and when the days passed and he continued to scamper hurriedly from the room after class,
[01:06.09]I stopped him one afternoon and asked why he no longer helped me in the room.
[01:10.77]I told him how much I had missed him, and his large gray eyes lit up eagerly as he replied, “Did you really miss me?”
[01:18.61]“I was making you a surprise,” he whispered confidentially, “It’s for Christmas.”
[01:25.03]With that, he became embarrassed and dashed from the room.
[01:28.85]He didn’t stay after school any more after that.
[01:32.33]Finally came the last school day before Christmas.
[01:36.25]Mark crept slowly into the room that afternoon with his hands concealing something behind his back.
[01:42.34]“I have your present,” he said timidly, “I hope you like it.”
[01:47.57]He held out his hands, and there lying in his small palms was a tiny wooden box.
[01:53.34]“It’s beautiful, Mark. Is there something in it?”
[01:56.50]I asked opening the top to look inside.
[01:59.01]“Oh, you can’t see what’s in it,”
[02:01.08]He replied, “and you can’t touch it, or taste it or feel it,
[02:04.89]but mother always said it makes you feel good all the time, warm on cold nights, and safe when you’re all alone.”
[02:12.73]I gazed into the empty box.
[02:15.67]“What is it Mark,” I asked gently, “that will make me feel so good?”
[02:20.59]“It’s love,” he whispered softly, “and mother always said it’s best when you give it away.”
[02:27.59]And he turned and quietly left the room.
[02:30.32]So now I keep a small box crudely made of wood on the piano in my living room.
[02:36.34]Yes, Christmas is for gaiety and song, for good and wonderful gifts.
[02:42.02]But mostly, Christmas is for love.
