Christmas magic

tossing and turning in bed Christmas Eve

anticipating the morning

bolting out of bed as the sun rises to wake the house

listening to the grumpy parents’ growl as they roll out of bed

the eager child waits no longer-

the child hops down the stairs, skipping three at a time,

the child’s eyes light up as bright as the Christmas tree at the sight

big, beautiful boxes wrapped perfectly with beaming, blue bows on top

these all-placed orderly under the huge evergreen strung with dazzling white lights

the crumb-filled plate sitting on the wooden coffee table

the crumpled, used napkin lay beside it, used to wipe any milk mustache

the child waits until the odor of warm, freshly brewed coffee fills the air

then the child leaves no mercy for the festive wrapping paper,

the child does not care about the exterior, for what is on the inside matters most

wrapping paper goes flies and boxes are being ripped apart

gift after gift stack on top of each other to form a ginormous pyramid

the parents grin at the sight of their child dancing and smiling from excitement

the child is filled with love, joy, and appreciation

the room is filled with everything the child could have asked for

the family spends the rest of the morning opening and experimenting with these gifts,

the parents reminiscing on their own childhood Christmas mornings

they play board games, drink hot chocolate, and enjoy their day inside together

the day was not meant just to give physical gifts

it was meant for families to enjoy each other’s presences

to laugh until their stomach aches at Dad with mashed potatoes on his face

to make Mom cry at “Baby’s First Christmas” ornament. every. single. year.

the magic of Christmas is unique and exhilarating

and now the child awaits until the next year rolls around