CHRISTMAS DREAM AND A MIRACLE

I could hardly wait for Christmas morning.  Our little home smelled like ginger bread, fruit cake and cookies for days.  Since we did not have Christmas lights on our tree our dad put a small light underneath the tree that made all our homemade ornaments and decorations show up really nice.  

My brother and I gave our parents the wish list for Santa.  Each of us had a special wish that Christmas.  Little brother wanted a red tricycle and I wanted a bicycle.  I saw this beautiful blue bike with a basket and silver bell on the handlebars at the store.  I dreamed about riding that big blue bike down the road with the wind blowing through my hair almost every night.

My dad warned me about asking Santa for a bike that big since it may be too large for me to ride but I was not deterred in the least.  After all I had dreamed about it every night.  I really-really knew I could ride that bike with no problem. 

Did I mention I could be pretty stubborn sometimes?  

Finally, a very cold Christmas Eve arrived.  We went to Christmas Eve Church service first and then my dad read the Christmas story to us.  He told us that baby Jesus was born on Christmas and that he was a special present from God.  We thought it was pretty special to get a present from God and a present from Santa Claus.  We went to Church on Christmas Eve but Santa Claus was sure to visit after we went to sleep.  

We settled down by our home made tree in the living room, sipping hot chocolate and marshmallows. The wood stove in the living room was glowing with burning logs and red sparks dancing like fireflies.  It kept us warm and cozy from the winter cold.  

As the cold night gradually crept in, replacing twilight shadows, we began to yawn and struggled to stay awake.   We were all tuckered out from the late dinner and attending Christmas Church service.  We could not imagine sleeping because we were so excited, but with warm beds cradling our tired little bodies we were soon fast asleep. 

And just like that, early dawn was peeking through the curtains and we were wide awake!

My brother and I awoke early on Christmas morning, but our parents were already up and waiting.  I kind of think they were excited too.   All of us headed straight for the living room, because that was where our homemade Christmas tree stood in all its regal beauty. We knew Santa Claus would definitely leave our toys by that special tree.  

I ran into the living room first and looked all around for my bike. At first, all I saw was my little brothers red tricycle under the tree.  I did not see my bike by the tree.

The tears of disappointment began to form in my eyes, so my dad quickly told me to look behind the couch.  You see, Santa had to prop my present up so that it would not fall over on the tree.  And then I saw those beautiful silver handlebars with a bell peaking up high and shiny over the back of the couch.  My tears turn to laughter and joy!  Santa Claus did remember to bring my bicycle.

But, there is a lot more to this story.  For you see, it turned out Christmas had a miracle in store for me that I did not anticipate.  The miracle just did not happen on Christmas Day.   Little did I know that delight over my special present would turn to sadness before the day ended!     

Christmas day did not turn out exactly the way I thought it would.  For one thing my Dad was right!  My beautiful blue bike was way too big for my little stature. The only way I could pedal was to stand up on the foot pedals even with the seat lowered.   I could not sit down on the seat and pedal, because my legs were too short.  

So, after many falls and trying all day, I walked my bike to the back porch late on Christmas afternoon and pushed it up the steps and left it there. You could tell my parents were pained about my experience, but they did not say anything.  As for me, I was sad and disappointed about the outcome.  I could not believe this bike was not cooperating with me.  Why did it turn out to be so hard to ride? 

Well, New Year’s Day showed up a week later, and that new bike was still standing on the back porch!  It was still as shiny and beautiful as ever!   I remember looking at it for a long time and thinking how disappointed I was over this whole thing.  

Eventually I very calmly walked up onto the porch and rolled my bike down the steps.  I decided I would give that bike one more chance! I did not have any expectations this time. After all I did not succeed the first time. So I pushed my bike slowly down the steps into the yard.  

My only thought as I walked it to the driveway was that it was really a beautiful and perfect bike.  I would just love to feel the wind through my hair like in my dreams.  I fervently wished with all my heart that I could ride my wonderful blue bike.  

I climbed on the pedals and started pedaling like mad and it just happen. And would you believe it?  I was “really” riding down the road with the wind in my hair just like I had been dreaming about all those months.   It was my dream on Christmas Day but it became my miracle on New Year’s Day!

I guess you could say I practiced a lot on Christmas and finally got the hang of how it all worked, but I choose to say it was a miracle.  What are the odds, of never falling once or riding all day without one mishap?  As you grow older, you come to realize there are many things in life that are not easily explained.   If you are lucky you may get to see many miracles happen from time to time.  

That Christmas and New Year’s Day was very memorable to this grandma!  It taught me a life lesson as well, one that was deeply implanted in my young mind.  Miracles can happen when you never give up on your dream.  If your dream is bigger in life than you thought it would be, just keep trying.  You make adjustments to make it work out anyway, and it can be even better than you dreamed about.