Our Christmas Visitor

Our Christmas Visitor

I would like to share with you one of my most cherished Christmas memories for it in many ways has changed the way I view life.  I most certainly opened my perspective to a much more expansive view. 

The Christmas just before Dakota, my daughter, turned three, we were in the living room one evening and the tree had just been put up and the lights were all on.  White lights sparkled from the green branches and my mother had put several crystal ornaments.  They glistened with various rainbows of color when the lights hit them, even though they were perfectly clear and transparent.  They are hand blown crystal with names of family members engraved on them and we hang them up every year as a tradition.  This specific year, I watched as the strangest thing began to unfold.  Dakota, my youngest, walked up to the tree and just stood there staring at it.  She then took one tiny finger and spun the ball before her and watched as it sparkled and turned.  She watched silently, unmoving until it stopped and then she went to another and did the same.  I looked up sort of in shock, Christmas several years prior suddenly became vivid in my mind because something similar had occurred.  It was somewhere to the best of my memory between my two miscarriages (~~Yes, years before Dakota had been born).  I was at my mother’s sitting on the sofa, the tree was up and the lights were on.  Jonathan, my son, was playing in the floor and watching TV.  Mom and I were sitting and talking about general things when we both noticed one single ball (Jonathan's) on the tree spinning wildly.  It spun around and around until it stopped and then another one started.  There was no air or draft that would cause this, especially causing only one ornament to move only to stop and another begin.  The rest of the ornaments were still and unmoved.  I remember sitting there mouth gaped open watching this event.  All you could see was the crystal ball spinning sending sparkles of light across the room.  That evening I had even said out loud, "Stop that" and caused my mother to jump.  It all came flooding back to mind.  I continued to watch her spin one at a time in this fashion.  My train of thought was brought to a crashing stop when I heard a sudden gasp from the doorway.  I turned to see my mother standing there watching Dakota at the Christmas tree.  She looked quickly at me then back at Dakota then back at me again and I began to laugh. (~~still makes me laugh to think back on it).  I knew she was remembering the same event that was replaying in my minds eye and it was such a shock that we both ended up with gaping mouths once again, just observing the events again but this time we could see who was spinning the ornaments. 

Dakota visited us prior to her birth this was very evident to us at this point and no one can make me believe differently.  To this day, at Christmas, she will go through the same ritual and stand silently by the decorated tree and spin the ornaments one at a time and watch as they glisten with the reflections of lights and sparkles.  Then she will moved to another and do the same.  We, of course, have never said anything to her about this for we hold it in our heart and it has become a wonderful Christmas event. 

Now, on our Christmas tree hangs a crystal ball with Dakota's name engraved on it, given to her by my Aunt Edna who started the tradition of giving crystal Christmas ornaments to all the new members of the family.  Little does she know what a Christmas gift she's given us over the years for her tradition has turned into another.  I don’t know if anyone else notices this special ritual we see every year; however, for my mother and I it is a gentle reminder from the other side of an unconditional love that transcends all things.   

May your Holiday be filled with those of the heart, in all forms....
Leslie



 

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