Today is a great day! There are days when loads get lifted. Days when our joy is complete. Days when we remember why we are here. ‘Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but when the desire comes, it is a tree of life.’ Christmas miracles are for each of us if we will receive them. The Gift Of The Magi is in all of our lives when we look for it.

‘Neva J, you are a good friend,’ Rosie said. ‘After my husband died, I became reculsive and morose,’ Rosie continued. ‘I comforted myself by listening to phonograph records of JFK’s speeches when he was alive and his picture on my wall,’ Rosie noted. ‘His comforting New England accent seemed to be speaking to me as a member of my family,’ Rosie mused. ‘I took to talking to myself a little; there was no one else to talk with,’ Rosie explained. President Kennedy’s voice made me feel that someone was with me, I was not alone,’ Rosie said with a tear in her eye. ‘You came along with your kindness and not being ashamed of me,’ Rosie said. ‘You made me part of your family when others shunned me or when they saw me walking down the sidewalks of Eldorado, crossed to the other side of the street,’ Rosie noted. ‘I had value in your eyes,’ Rosie said softly.

‘They called me ‘One Eye,’ Abigail said. ‘My husband and I were a well-known Vaudeville Act and traveled across the country,’ Abagail said. ‘Many people wanted my autograph, and we stayed in the finest hotels in New York City,’ Abigail said. ‘We had a car wreck that took my husband’s life and my right eye,’ Abagail said in a whisper. ‘I moved to Eldorado with no money and no ability to perform,’ Abagail said. ‘People laughed at me, and kids called out, ‘Old One Eye eats little children.’ I stayed in my little hovel with my cat. You saw me under the ragged clothes and terrible name,’ Abagail said. ‘You invited me to Christmas Dinner with Rosie and your family, and I felt after such a long time to be part of a family again,’ Abagail cried.

‘Cats accepted me while people did not,’ Mrs. W said. ‘People called me the Cat Lady,’ Mrs. W noted. ‘I watched the world through my windows and rarely ventured out,’ Mrs. W explained. ‘Some even whispered that I was a witch and cast spells on people,’ Mrs. W said in a trembling voice. ‘I have a mental illness that I take medication for, but I love people and have never hurt any living creature,’ Mrs. W. said. ‘Anyone different is ridiculed, maligned, and marginalized,’ Mrs. W noted. ‘I was a professor at Southern Illinois University @ Carbondale until my illness became difficult to manage,’ Mrs. W. said. ‘I counseled many students and have served on Ph.D. committees,’ Mrs. W noted. Neva J loved me with my cats and my mental illness, and I am at her family Christmas Table today with love in my heart for her,’ Doctor W. said.

‘I was not born unusually talented, I do have the gift of love for those less fortunate,’ Neva J said. ‘Each of you has shared your gifts with me, and for that I am grateful,’ Neva J continued. ‘I have given you pocket watch fobs for your waistcoats while you have given me combs for my long black hair,’ Neva J smiled. ‘I sold my hair to purchase the Fobs, and you sold your pocket watches to buy me the lovely Combs. This is truly a brilliant Christmas,’ Neva J announced…