All I want for Christmas is my two front teeth
Dec 18 '00
Well, not really, but it is a catchy title! That was my favorite Christmas song growing up and, wouldn't you know it, I'm now engaged to a dentist. Speaking of whom, my first wish for Christmas is about him.
But before I begin to tell you about that wish and my other four wishes, I preface this opinion by saying that you do not even have to rate it. How can someone really rate such an opinion? After all, what is important to one person to receive for a gift may be highly unimportant to another. The only reason I am writing this opinion in the first place is to remind myself of the true meanings of Christmas. It is not about that $10,000 eternity wedding band I would LOVE from Tiffany and Co., it is about life, motherhood, family, love, and the clarity of a beautiful star on a cold, winter's night.
1.LIFE
As I say my prayers at night one of the first things I pray for is my fiancé’s mother, Dr. Anne_____. This dear woman is sixty years old and has lung cancer. Barring a miracle, her prognosis is grim. This situation breaks my heart because this is a woman who — as a highly regarded obstetrician — has brought thousands of lives into the world. It is never fair for anyone to be afflicted by disease, but for someone whose hands have done nothing but help bring life into this world, it seems so terribly cruel for hers to be taken away so soon. You should see the hundreds of cards in her house from women whose babies she delivered, thanking her for giving them such a precious gift and wishing her the gift of a miracle. For Christmas, I ask for that miracle too.
2.MOTHERHOOD
My second wish as Christmas approaches is for my own mother, Dawn. She is the most incredible person I have ever had the privilege of knowing. My mother is forty-six and, after raising four children with the utmost amount of love, commitment, and tenderness, she enrolled in college three years ago to earn her bachelor’s degree! My mother married young and started a family when she was only 20, therefore her education was cut short. She instilled a great appreciation for education in her own children, though, and always dreamed of going back to school herself (though she NEVER made us feel like a burden for not being able to fulfill that dream earlier). She graduates from college in May with her bachelor’s degree and certification in elementary education and, for Christmas, I would love her to get a job offer right away to finally get paid for what she has excelled at for years: teaching.
3.FAMILY
For the other members of my family, I wish happiness, health, and good fortune in the year ahead, especially for my beloved Dad. I especially wish that he could receive something so many of us take for granted—health insurance. My Dad is a farmer, which is one of the most dangerous professions in the world. Quite often he injures himself on the job, but rarely is able to seek care for his injuries because he is self-employed and makes too much for Medicaid, but not enough to pay for health insurance. Right now, I can think of several medical procedures my Dad needs (and these are only the ones I know about because he is a stubborn man and does not like to admit weakness), but he can’t get these surgeries for his knees and hips because he can’t afford them. Health insurance for my Dad (who has literally broken his back to keep our family and family farm going) would be such a great Christmas gift.
4.LOVE
For Christmas I wish that everyone who needs it feels it and everyone who has it is able to sustain it. I especially wish for the love my fiancé and I have to continue to strengthen as we excitedly prepare for our upcoming wedding and to grow each day as husband and wife. As I have seen in my own family, the love between husband and wife is the glue that holds everything else together and I wish for that in our union too.
5.CLARITY
Finally, as my most selfish wish, I wish for the gift of clarity in my own life. Ever since graduating from college three years ago I have been on a journey to find purpose and direction in my life. I’ve tried many things: counseling work, newspaper reporting, teaching, doctoral study in psychology, etc., but none have been the right fit. I know that God has given me many gifts, and I hope that this year I finally realize what MY gift to the world will be.
As always, thank you for reading and rating. Have a wonderful holiday season whatever, if any, your faith may be.
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Epinions.com ID:
caurieanne
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Location: Upstate New York
Reviews written: 30
Trusted by: 26 members
About Me:
I am a native upstate New Yorker and freelance writer who currently lives in Rochester.
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