Two Turtle Doves: Old & New Testament

Sorry it is soooo long. I will try to shorten them in the days to come. The scriptures teach us that we need to write. So this is me writing.

The Magic of the Living Room

Jean sat in it every day. It was just an ordinary living room. Sometimes it was messy, sometimes it was the ring for a wrestling match. It was the place for company, the place for games. It was vacuumed every week and dusted every so often. People sat it in every day.

The ordinariness of the living room is so profound that it magnifies the profundity of its extraordinariness.

Jean felt it change every year. After Thanksgiving, when the décor went up, it was evident that a special time was coming. Things started to look brighter. Music became sweeter. Family moments lasted longer. Like the slow rise in temperature in a pot of water on a hot stove, the living room became magical by degrees.

This year was no different for Jean. As her countdown to Christmas got smaller day by day, the intense anticipation got larger day by day. It is an interesting day, Christmas. It is a day separated by 364 other days. It is something looked forward to all year long. We can’t wait for it to come, and we are desperate for it to stay, but it passes as quickly as any other day and the closer it gets the sooner it will leave. The living room is the same way. Though it too anticipates, it is only fully magical for one day. Jean felt the room imbibe every hope and wish that she and her brother and sister had. Mother said that if the children were naughty in that room it would remember and tell Santa Claus.

They played nicely there. They sang all of Santa’s songs and kissed the decorations of his reindeer. They sat in it listening to stories of Christmas miracles. Believing every word, their eyes were full of belief that one could happen for them. Maybe this would be the year that they saw Santa Claus. Maybe this would be the year that he brought Jean a Unicorn, James an Indian, and Evie a chocolate statue taller than her dad. They were always happy with what Santa did bring them. The living room always shone. It always made up for the missing unicorn and other such dreams.

This year Mother and Father had a strange idea. Instead of putting presents under the tree that said Jean, James, and Evie, the boxes said Connor, Lily, and Stevie. Who were these other children? Jean tried not to show she was upset, but this year she was so confused. Dad had a good job. She had been very clear all year that she wanted a saddle for the unicorn. Santa would be sure to follow through this year. One night her mother and father talked to her and the other children. They said that this year they wanted to give to another family. And they wanted the children to be helpful as well. Would they? James just ran around whooping like an Indian, Evie slobbered as she sucked her thumb. Jean was the only one who seemed upset, but she knew her parents wouldn’t ask her to do something that would make her sad on purpose.

She started helping pick out things for the children with her mom. At first she picked out things that were not fun for children like school paper and erasers. She started to learn more about the family. The dad was sick with something. He was in the hospital a lot. The mom had started working while the kids were in school. They didn’t have a lot. They only had one beat up car. It was funny that they only lived a few houses from Jean, but she didn’t know much about them. Then the hardest thing happened. Jean saw it. A big unicorn in the store. It was perfect for her. It had a saddle and a big shiny horn. She sat on it and it began rocking with so much zeal it was sure to take off flying. She looked with pleading eyes at her mother, but she already knew the answer. With tears in her eyes, she said, “well if I can’t have it someone should.” They bought it and Jean was silent the whole way home. Wondering about the girl who would get her present, she started to look for Lily. Every day Lily wore a purple ribbon in her hair. That was Jean’s favorite color too! She started to become friends with Lily. They played together and found that they both loved Christmas trees and the living room. They became fast friends.

In the living room, the family spent time wrapping gifts for the other family. It was so much fun to do together. Jean made sure that all of Lily’s presents had a purple bow tied around them, just like in her hair. The living room soaked up all of that good Christmas cheer and did not forget.

All the preparations made the remaining time go so quick and soon it was Christmas Eve. Jean sat in the living room and watched the lights dance around the room. It was finally hours away. All 364 days had passed. Each day was excruciatingly delightful. She couldn’t believe that this moment is finally here. That this moment is so beautiful.

The next morning they got up extra early. Somehow the living room looked more spectacular than ever. The tree was tall and plump with the most beautiful gold star at the top. The lights radiated with a peace that went straight to the heart. The packages underneath, that had none of their names, were like diamonds. They all entered with reverence, as if trying not to disturb a butterfly. The air was still and their voices were quiet. Somehow, the room was so full of Christmas Spirit that every molecule was buzzing with approval. The family said a prayer together. They read the nativity story and the parents said how proud they were of all the children.

They put all the presents in the car. They drove over and knocked on the door. The mother opened it with sleepy eyes that woke up the minute she saw the bags full of gifts. Jean’s mother said, “Santa delivered these to the wrong house.”

After exclamations of joy, tears, and shouts of happiness Jean couldn’t believe the way she felt! It was so hard not to laugh and smile! They went in to be with the family for a minute to share hot chocolate. Lily quietly came up to Jean and said, “I have this for you too. My grandma gave it too me when I was a baby. It isn’t new, but it is my favorite thing. I want you to have it.” Jean thanked her and hugged her and then Jean and her family left. Jean imagined Lily’s delight in opening the riding unicorn. She didn’t feel one ounce of jealousy. She was happy that her parent’s had this idea.

She sat in the living room holding her gift. She stared at the beautiful tree and tried to take in the magic of this room. This past 364 days she spent thinking about the things she wanted for Christmas. The last thing she would have guessed would be that she would be giving them all away. But here, in this magic room, nothing seemed more appropriate. Besides, she had one gift after all. She opened the small package that Lily had given her and she gasped when the wrappings fell. In her hand she held a small, wooden, perfectly crafted, purple unicorn.