The cold wind would blow the snow around the little cottage that lay in the middle of the forest. It was a particularly cold day. It happened to be the day before Christmas. A small boy of about nine sat by his grandmothers bed side in the small room. He held her hand tight, and watched her close. The grandmother would give her young grandson a huge smile. She would give his small hand a squeeze as she asked, “My dear boy, do you know what Christmas really means?” The young boy would shake his head slowly at her. “It is all about love my dear child. Love, family, and just being together.” He would look at his grandma, and ask in a rather timid voice, “I thought it was about presents.” She would laugh softly, “Presents are just the way we help tell other people how much we care for them child. Show our love for them.” The young boy would sit there silently, and think about what his grandma had told him. He would then decide he wanted to get her the best Christmas present of them all to show her how much he loved her. So off to bed he went, and as he lay there in the darkness with eyes closed, he would think about what that best present would be.
The next day the boy got an early start. He dressed warmly, and went to town. He held his coat close to his small form to keep himself protected from the bitter cold winds until he reached the first store. It was a giant toy store that had so many things, he didn’t know where he might begin. He went up to one of the workers at the store that had been helping someone just a moment before he reached him. He would stare up at the man with soft, childlike, innocent eyes. The man would smile down at him and ask, “How can I help you today young man?” The little boy would say simply, “I want a present to show my grandma how much I love her.” The man would smile, and fully stand up to rub his chin. “Mmmmmm. Well now, something for grandma huh?” The man would take the boy around until they reached a section with cards, all kinds of cards. Regular cards, cards meant for specific games, all types it would seem. “Does your grandma like card games? We have all sorts. I am sure your grandma would just love them, especially since she could play with you too.” The boy would think about the mans words. Well, grandma did like to play games with him. And it meant they got to do something together, but it just didn’t feel like the right kind of gift. So he thanked the man, and went on his way.
The next store he came to was a clothing store. He was greeted by a kind woman as soon as he walked in. She had a pleasant smile that reached her eyes. She smelled strongly of some fragrance the boy could not place. “Hello there young man, and how can I help you today?” He would give her a shy nod, and say simply, “I want a present to show my grandma how much I love her.” The smile on the woman’s face would seem to get bigger, though it did not look possible. “Well I am sure we have just the right thing for grandma.” She would gently place her hand on the boys back, and guide him to one section in particular. It was the sweater section, she pulled one off that had a picture on it. It was a picture of a family around a Christmas tree, with a fireplace in the background. He would stare at it, and think to himself. Hadn’t grandma said something about it being about family? If so, this was definitely something that could show her he loved her. Yet again, however, this just didn’t feel right. So with a polite thank you he would leave again to continue his search.
The next store he came to was a jewelry store. It was small, but had many sections of glass cases filled to the brim with sparkling and gorgeous jewelry. He noticed one case in particular that had a really pretty necklace. It sparkled and shined like some of his toy cars. He couldn’t help, but stare. It was a sparkly white heart on the end of a silver chain. One of the women working behind the counter would peek up and over the edge of the counter to look down at him with a smile. “Can I help you young man?” Again, he would merely look up in a shy manner to her. “Uhm….I just want a present to tell my grandma how much I love her.” She had to smile bigger at the boys sentiment, and pointed down to the heart he had been looking at. “That necklace is perfect to show your grandma how much you love her. After all, you would be giving her your heart.” The boy would stare at the heart for several seconds. It made sense, even at such a young age he understood the ideals of giving your heart in some small fashion. But once more, this didn’t feel totally right to him. So with a polite thank you he decided it was time to go home.
The next day was Christmas morning. The grandma would wake up, and see her grandson standing there with a bow on his head, and a piece of paper in his hand. He would hand it to her, and she noticed pictures drawn in the crayons she had bought him for Christmas last year. The piece of paper showed what she thought was a deck of cards, a sweater, and a necklace that had a heart at the end. The boy would then proceed to speak to her. “I was thinking so much about what to get you for Christmas grandma….I thought the deck of cards would be nice, because we would get to spend time together doing fun things. I liked the sweater, because it would keep you nice and warm while remembering I am here too.” He would point to one of the family members on the sweater he had drawn, as if to show it was him. “And I liked the necklace, because the heart meant I loved you, and wanted you to know. But, I thought hard grandma, all last night. And I thought, I could be all those things for you instead. I can be the cards, and do fun things whenever you want. I can be the sweater, to help make sure your always comfy, and have me around. Also, I am family too. And, I can be the heart, because no matter what grandma I will always love you.” The grandmother had to smile really big, and hugged her grandson to her tightly. “You know what honey? I think this is the best Christmas present I have ever gotten.” The rest of that day was spent playing games, telling stories, and just sharing the love they had for one another so deeply.