The "W" in Christmas

 Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and
 peaceful experience.
 
I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive
 card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even
 overspending.
 
Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to
 appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the
 true meaning of Christmas.

 My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It
 was an exciting season for a six year old.

 For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his
 school's "Winter Pageant."
 
I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be
 working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his
 shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me
 there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the
 presentation.
 
All parents unable to at tend that evening were
 welcome to come then.
 
Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the
 compromise.
 So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten
minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat
down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly
scampering to their seats.
 
As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each
 class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the
 floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their
 song.
 
Because the public school system had long stopped
 referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I
 didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial
 entertainment songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and
 good cheer.
 So, when my son's class rose to sing,
 "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by
its bold title.
 
Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates,
adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps
upon their heads.
 Those in the front row- center stage - held up large
letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song.
 
As the class would sing "C is for
Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then,
"H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child
 holding up his portion had presented the complete message,
 "Christmas Love."
 
The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we
 noticed her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding
 the letter "M" upside down - totally unaware her
 letter "M" appeared as a "W".
 
  The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at
  this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were
  laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her
  "W".
   Although many teachers tried to shush the children,
 the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and
  we all saw it together.
 
 A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen.
 
  In that instant, we understood the reason we were
 there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why
  even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities.
   For when the last letter was held high, the message
  read loud and clear:
  
  
      "C H R I S T W A S  L O V E"
 
 And, I believe, He still is.
 
 
 Amazed in His presence... .humbled by His love.
  Again, HAVE A BLESSED CHRISTMAS SEASON.