Mama Flor lived with her husband and two small girls, Alicia and Marisa, in Santa Ana.
The apartment manager liked children, and every year, she stored the gifts at the apartment manager's home. She had the key to the apartment.
On Christmas Eve, the parents would take the children out to dinner. They would turn off the lights, and enjoy some time together as a family. The parents worked hard for long hours to be able to support themselves.
And Alicia, more than anyone else, loved Christmas!
When they would come home, Alicia would say, 'Mom! Dad! Look! The lights are turned on!!! I think Santa was HERE!!!'
They would open the door and the girls raced inside, discovering presents all under the tree!
'Whose gift is this for?' Alicia would show her mom and ask her to read the tag on it, doing a little dance, and handing it to the person whose name was on it. Each package after the next, she did the same, waiting for hers and glowing with pride the whole time.
Her mother worked in the hospital, and had been a mother long enough to know that 'that dance' might have meant more than excitement. 'Alicia', Mama Flor asked, 'Are you sure you don't need to use the bathroom right now? The presents can wait.'
'Oh no, mama! I am okay.'
As she opened her gifts, Alicia was surprised and filled with joy to get exactly what she wanted--a little washing machine with the water that actually moved and swished, a dryer, and a little iron that barely got warm (so she couldn't burn herself).
Guess what?
She was so happy she couldn't hold it anymore and peed her pants! She apologized to her mother, who said, 'Don't worry, it's okay. We'll change you, darling. Merry Christmas.'
I thought this was the most beautiful story of Love I have ever heard when it was shared with me.
Happiness that makes you so surprised and excited you just can't hold anything! And a mother's kind compassion over her daughter's 'accident'.
Enjoy your Christmas, or family gathering, whatever you celebrate, today.
Aloha and Mahalos,
Namaste,
Reiki Doc
