“It’s full,” she said, as I squeezed the bottom of the Christmas stocking with my chubby, youthful hand. “I don’t feel anything,” I replied. “You will,” she said, “It’s packed with everything that I wish for you.” And just like that, my hands and heart were complete. 

As an adult, the week before Christmas was reserved for my mother. We did everything we loved. Coffee in the morning. Shopping. Fashion shows from the bathroom mirror to the bedroom closet. Wine and stories. And laughter and tears of tenderness. Poems read and books exchanged. Sharing chocolate dark and rich — having to brush our teeth twice as we revisited the box. Giggling on pillows. Emptying slowly our stockings full of wishes that we had for the new day, the new year, for each other. 

I have them throughout the house here in France. The two stockings that were my mother’s are lying on the sofa — too full of love to possibly hang. 

It’s easy to get more lonesome this time of year. So many lessons learned can take away the magic. My hands can get weighted with doubt, until I shake them off, gather the stockings in, and know that all the love is still there. My hands and heart full. I am complete. 

Give today a big squeeze – it’s packed with everything that I wish for you!  Merry Christmas!