re: What’s your favorite thing about Christmas time now that you’re older?

6 years ago...the Christmas magic died. First, my wife left, and I had 2 little, Little babies, one an infant, that I had no clue how to deal with. Then my brother died. I lost my job...the world fell apart.

At Christmas, when before I had felt such joy...now I felt only bitterness, loss, a hole where the magic should have been.

Sometimes i’d Put up a tree. Half-heartedly decorate it, the “our first Christmas” ornament mocking me, and my brother’s ornaments tearing my heart open. There was an emptiness, a hollowness in my soul where love once bloomed. And I thought i’d Never get it back. I thought Christmas evermore would be this soulless consumer holiday where i couldn’t wait for it to be over. One where I’d have to tell my kids goodbye and send them with their mother before Santa came.




And then...this year, Christmas magic happened. Something wholly unexpected blossomed. Something 6 months ago i’d Have told you was impossible.

Now, my house is warm and tidy and festive, decorated. We make Christmas cookies, read Christmas stories by the tree. The lights are up, the carols ring through the house. Presents under the tree. The smells of apples and spice and spruce redolent in the air.

Seeing the kids so happy, so excited, counting down the days, opening the advent calendar. My baby girl made me this gift and wrapped it last night, it was so precious. We go and see Christmas lights, and the full joy of the season wells up within me.

And Christmas morning...I think magic might happen. I think some Christmas wishes might come true.

So fellas who have lost a lot, who maybe think that the magic is dead...sometimes you just need to find the right someone to bring it back.