Nanax4

Mine was from one of my brothers.

He'd come down a few days before Christmas with a big box that he seemed excited about. We normally just exchange something small, like a book, so this was unusual.

He almost had me open it that day, but then decided to wait & have me open it on Christmas Eve (we wouldn't be together on Christmas Eve). I was a little disappointed to not open it when he was there, but whatever he wanted.

So he's calling me multiple times Christmas Eve day, asking if I've opened the present. Well, no, it's not Christmas Eve yet. Finally, I was like: GET OFF MY PHONE! We're trying to have Christmas Eve dinner here.

But he was so excited that I relented and went downstairs to open the present. He wanted to stay on the phone while I opened the present, so I was thinking that this was going to be some kind of joke gift (my brothers are notorious for doing bad things to me) - like a rock, or the paper was glued to the box, or something.

It was a violin!!!!!!! How did he know that I've always wanted a violin???? I don't recall that I'd ever verbalized that wish.

How am I ever going to pay him back for that kind of a gift? I can't. I can only accept it and learn to play well.

I've never felt so loved before or since. I sat in church that night and just glowed in the love. I felt like it was shining all around me, and that people could see the glow.

The end of the story is that when his wife died at the young age of 52, leaving behind a heart-broken husband and kids, I played the violin at the funeral.

But I still keep my eye out for something exceedingly special that I can give him. What that is I don't know, but I'll know it when I see it, and I'll be so excited to have found it for him.

So that's my little Christmas story. It will be interesting to see what stories the rest of you share.

debbieumphress

Such a wonderful story, thanks for sharing. My bst xmas was when my dad was in Vietnam in 1965. On xmas morning when we went downstairs there was a black piano Werlitzer. Both my sister and I played and sent him tapes with music we played while he was there. It has memories because he had it delivered from where he was and We still have it. My sister keeps it a while, then I get it. Of course I can pay it when I go over there. We have two GKS taking lessons too. I even hear "Fur ELise" playing when my sis calls me on my cell phone. It was a glorious Xmas. I was 9.

luvTooQuilt

I come from a huge family, lots of brothers and sisters, and tons of cousins.. It was great growing up cause we always had someone to play with all the time.. ( and fight with) Well Christmas eve, we do the normal thing, leave milk and cookies for Santa and clean up the living room ( move furniture this way and that way) so Santa has room to leave presents.. lol... I often thought We made poor Santa broke, all the elves having to make all those presents he was going to leave us..- Yes I know spoiled does come to mind.. We go down for the night to wake up Christmas morning just after the sun peeks thru, we were NOT allowed up before the sun dad said.. and he meant it!! We come running out of our bedrooms to find that Santa had dropped off presents at my cousins house only to bring my cousins back to our house..In his sleigh no less!!!! It was pretty cool that We found them sleeping next to the tree.. I believed that story for years!!!!!!! Still makes me smile.. My family was the best present ever!!

Jan in VA

One of my best Christmas gifts came from my now ex, of all things. I had seen an antique quilt in a little shop hours and hours from home on a weekend trip with the family in the summer. Wanted it badly, but as this was the first shop we went into, I felt it would be expedient to shop a few more places and then go back to it on the way out of town. Of course, we went home a different route and I left the quilt behind.

Near Christmas my ex "had to go out of town", as he often did for work; but though I thought he was in Oklahome, he sneakily went back to this little town in Arkansas and hunted down the quilt. The lady was sure it had been sold months before, but he was insistent it would be there. And it was, in the last pile they sorted through.

A couple days before Christmas came; a strange very long, skinny box appeared leaning against the wall half under the tree. I shook it, I poked it, I rattled it, I guessed and guessed, but could not figure it out.

When I opened it, I was so surprised and a bit overwhelmed...it was so unlike him to do such a thing, so thought out and full of effort! It was a precious gift to me and it lives on my bed in the spring even now.

Memories like this make me wonder why I am single. But we make much better friends than spouses and are both quite happy with our places in this life.

Merry holidays, all!

Jan in VA

Quiltforme

My last christmas with my grandpa 4 years ago. It was a quiet day and night he was slowing down. Normally he would dress up as Santa but that was passed down to my husband. Grandpa sat in a chair and shared his meal with my aunts dog it was such a treat to see him eat a bite then pass down a bite to the dog. It was the best Christmas gift ever I thought we would have more but that Christmas was my gift! I really miss him.

ptquilts

I would have to say, it was 5 years ago yesterday that DH had a stroke that landed him in the hospital for 10 days. When I could finally drive him home with me, that was the best gift ever.

SuziC

My Very Best Gift was about 9 years ago. My son and his new wife moved to Tampa and it was very hard on me. He is my oldest and was always a "homebody" It was a complete surprise to the family that they were moving. That Christmas i was so down from having one of my boys gone it didn't want to have Chrisstmas at my house. My son's best friend stopped over three days before Christmas. He had my present that was sent from Florida. I went outside to his truck and there was a box in the bed of the truck. He looks at me and says Anthony sent this for you.......he lifts the top of the box and THERE HE WAS!!! My boy came home for Christmas!!!!!!

raptureready

It wasn't for Christmas, it was for my fifth birthday. Mom had not been feeling well and hadn't been able to shop for me. She left home a few days before my birthday and I was devastated! Where was she? Why didn't she come home? Was she going to miss my birthday? Finally my big day rolled around and Daddy said that he was going to go get Mom and bring her home. When they got back they told me to sit on the couch and they'd hand me my present. I did and Daddy brought my present to me and laid it on my lap. I was so thrilled! A new baby brother!!!! That was and still is the best present I ever got. That was 52 yrs ago.

vanessa

My best Christmas gift and the one I am most thankful for is my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ! I love him so very much! My next best gift is my two beautiful daughters that he gave to me and trusted me to raise and take care of for him. I love them so very much too!

Vanessa :)

Lynnejean

After a falling out with my oldest son and his wife. They wouldn't talk to me for 2 yrs. I repeatedly tried to make up with them. finally last year we were able to patch things up and all my children came home last christmas for the first time in 2 yrs. Nothing made me more happy.