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parking spot in the front of the lot, and “blowout”
sales were happening on the other side of the mall.
When I got inside, I saw a small wooden shop sign in
the distance. I walked briskly to it, and as I entered,
I read the large words carved on the sign: “The
Franciscan Place.”
Three days later on Christmas morning, I staggered
tiredly down the stairs to meet my mom and dad
sipping coffee and my bright-eyed, giddy younger
siblings around our Christmas tree. We all
exchanged personal gifts first. My siblings gave me
play-dough monsters impaled with pipe cleaners,
which I gratefully accepted. Then my parents
handed each of us a gift card to our favorite stores.
I was next. I handed each of my family members
a tiny, neatly-wrapped box. They all opened them
simultaneously; gasps of awe were let out. Inside
each box was an olive wood carving of the Holy
Family, with a stone from Calvary in the base.
I then explained to them my thoughts and how lost
people were about the true meaning of Christmas
and what “giving a gift” really means. I believed the
carvings could not have summed-up my story and
the meaning of Christmas any better.
I do not think this was the best Christmas ever
because I had found a good gift, but because I had
found the ultimate Gift.
Joseph Wagner
is 7th in line of a family of 8. He has been
homeschooled his entire life. He is an avid photographer,
and has been a cadet chief master sergeant in Civil Air Patrol
- the United States Air Force Auxiliary - for over 2 years.
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BAYLEY BULLETIN, DEC-FEB 2016