Love

When I was little, Mom always set out a beautifully painted little wooden box as part of our Christmas decor.  The box was empty, and it went with some story I can never really remember about a child giving his teacher a box filled with love.

What I do remember well is that one year my nephew Ryan was examining the box and asked Grandma why it was empty.  "It's not empty," Mom told him, "It's full of love! Every time we open it, love sneaks out and fills the room." She went on to tell him the little story I don't remember.  He listened to her without comment and then darted away to play when the story was over.  But a few days later, when his family was ready to leave after their visit, Ryan was seen eyeing the little box again.  He carefully opened the lid and watched the invisible love float up.  After a moment, he reach up, grabbed a handful, shoved it quickly into his pocket, and then closed the box and ran to catch up with his parents.

Our family loves remembering that sweet little moment, and I always want to be like Ryan - conscious of the love that is so abundant in life, and careful to somehow preserve it.

There have been so many wonderful, loving moments so far this season.  Like when neighbors quietly came and transformed Mom and Dad's front yard into a Christmas wonderland that had my kids squealing with delight.

  

There was a similar squealing moment several days later when the kids and I came home late from school to the sight of dark figures on our own roof.  We squinted for a moment until Lucy burst out with recognition, "It's Mr. Crippen!!"  

Sherelda had pizza for all the kids to picnic on while Chris and a couple of his big boys worked on the roof.  

The lights are beautiful!!!!!  So cheerful and hopeful and twinkling!  But it's the love that we're shoving deep into our pockets.  And not just the kind that comes on rooftops.  Also the kind that comes via text messages and phone calls, blog comments and Christmas cards.  The kind that's delivered anonymously to our doorstep.  And especially the kind that *overflows* when I see my kids curled up by their grandma...

...or when I sit in the living room and listen to her fingers playing carols on the piano.

Those are the moments I wish I could somehow hang on to.  But I've got to remember that even though time is fleeting, and moments don't last - love does.  So I'm putting as much in my pockets as I possibly can!