Knowing the value of a gift
It was at least two months before Christmas when nine-year-old Almie Rose told her father and me that she wanted a new bicycle.
As Christmas came closer,her desire for a bicycle seemed to fade.So we thought maybe she has changed her mind.We bought her a set of dolls and a doll's house.Then,much to our surprise,on December 23,she said that she"really wanted a bike more than anything else."
It was just too late.How could we get a bike for her in such short time? So,on Christmas Eve,as Almie Rose and her six-year-old brother,Dylan,went to bed,all we could think about was the bike.We didn't want to disappoint her.
"What if I make a little model bicycle of clay? I could write a note from Santa saying that she can trade the clay model in for a real bike."her dad said.
It sounded like a great idea. So he spent the next four hours painstakingly working with clay to make a mini-bike.
On Christmas morning,We waited for Almie Rose to open her gifts. The beautiful red and white mini-bike lay in heart-shaped box with the note.Finally,she opened it and read the note aloud.
"Does this mean that I trade in this bike that Daddy made me for a real one?"
"I could never trade in this beautiful bicycle that Daddy made me.I'd rather keep this than get a real bike."Almie Rose said,with tears in her eyes.
At that moment,we knew we had a very special little girl!
BY Michelle Lawrence