Short Christmas Poem Of Love

by Kathleen
(Walla Walla, WA, USA)

If you're old enough to remember the show "Family Affair," you may recall the Mrs. Beasley doll. One of the show's characters had one, and so the girls of my generation wanted one, too.

When I was little I had a Mrs. Beasley doll that I loved dearly. One day while my Granny and I were gone, my mom's German shepard dog destroyed a big section of carpeting ... and Mrs. Beasley. Oh, how I cried!

Over the years, the loss of Mrs. Beasley became a running joke when I wanted to give Mom a good-natured "bad time." I had stopped truly caring about Mrs. Beasley as I grew up, but it was a memory we dredged up now and then. I would give a "Sigh!" and pretend to mourn ol’ Mrs. B.

About ten years ago at Christmas, Mom started with our favorite holiday taunt of "I know something I won’t tell," in a sing-song voice with a gleam in her eye. As a 32-year-old mother of three, I could not imagine what had Mom so tickled. Granny added her two cents, happily repeating Mom’s teasing. I had no idea what they were up to.

Christmas Eve is our family gift exchange. We tore through the stack of presents under the tree, sat and played with the children, and admired our new goodies.

I heard my Mom call to me, looked up and saw her holding a 2-foot long present. She set it in my lap and said, "Guess." Granny grinned and waited.

Guess? I couldn’t, I had no idea.

Mom dropped hints, "Think about what happened when you were five."

Honestly, there was a lot going on in my young life then but as I held on to the box, a thought began to form ... surely not.

I unwrapped the box and a familiar face began to appear. There in all her brand-new glory stood a Mrs. Beasley doll!

The tears began to flow, and not just from me. Mom and Granny cried along while my tears turned into sobs. Seems the 5-year-old inside had missed my doll more than the grown-up realized.

Six months later my beloved Granny was called home to Heaven. And ever since, Mrs. Beasley has occupied in a place of honor in our home, a reminder of our love and joy that last Christmas with Granny.

Short Christmas Poem Of Love

Christmas love ever lives inside
biding its time to appear.
Always there, always willing
‘tho it's only once a year.

Sometimes it slips out quietly,
surprising those we treasure.
A gesture or a word we speak
given without measure.

Other times it shouts aloud
calling to all around.
Giving joy, giving light,
the grace in it abounds.

You are one who lets it shine
whether far or near.
I’m blessed with you in my life
to share the Christmas cheer!