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6 Christmas Stores of Wonder & Love 41

6 Christmas Stories of

Wonder and Love

Continued From Page 40

I couldn’t see the look on my sister’s face as she
opened the door to couriers with a surprise
delivery, but I could tell from her voice that she
was more than a little perplexed. This soon
morphed into utter disbelief and shock when the
box was opened and she saw her older sister
sitting inside smiling up at her. She was at a
complete loss for words, and I will never forget
the look on her face as she opened those flaps on
the box.
It was such a gift to be able to attend my
sister’s graduation, and to show her my love by
giving her the most unique, unconventional
Christmas present in the history of our family. It specially taking the nativity set and decorations have a duplicate built?
was a memory both she and I will cherish down from the attic and carefully putting them Brett said, “Leave it here. I’ll see what I
forever. It also served as a lesson for me: never, in place. When the sisters all married and can do.” Eileen left, hoping he could come up
ever underestimate the power of the Christmas grandchildren came along, they added new with a minor miracle. That’s what it would take
Spirit. It can move hearts, minds, and yes, even characters of their own to the stable, including a to satisfy the two women in her life that were
people in boxes. set of the three little pigs. squabbling.
- Heather Thompson After Mom’s death, when the nativity set A few days later, she received a phone

emerged, no one was prepared for the battle that message saying that her order was ready. When
Sharing a Legacy of Love would follow. My sister Joanne was the first to Eileen arrived at the hardware store to pick up
claim the manger, insisting it was the only one the wood, she couldn’t believe what she saw —
When my mother died at the age of eighty-four, of Mom’s possessions that she really wanted. two identical stables sitting side by side. Brett
my four sisters and I were heartbroken. How Her wish was granted. But when my niece had not only cut and measured the wood, he had
could we ever get over the loss of this warm and Mandy found out, she called from her apartment built a second manger. “I know you wanted
loving woman, a talented artist who enjoyed life in California to voice her objection. She was them to look the same, so I added a couple of
in spite of its challenges and always doted on her clearly emotional as she repeated a decades-old dings and flaws that were in the original. Hope
husband, daughters and grandchildren? promise made to her by my mother: “Nanny that’s okay.”
For weeks after, my sisters and I would promised me that I could have the nativity set Sure enough, the new stable had the
meet for dinner, laughing and crying over old when she was gone,” she cried. “The nativity set same lopsided front gate. “Okay?” Eileen said in
memories. When it came time to sell the home belongs to me.” Joanne felt strongly that as tears. “You have no idea what this will mean to
my mother loved, we spent many days in Mom’s daughter, she had first dibs. Neither she my sister and my daughter. To the entire family.
disbelief, clearing out her belongings. I nor Mandy would budge. I don’t care what this costs. Your work has saved
remembered reading an Ann Landers column When the disagreement showed signs of the day.”
years earlier that discussed how many siblings becoming a full-blown family feud, we realized “That will be $3.75 for the materials,”
fight bitterly over the possessions left by their something had to be done. Enter the family Brett said. When Eileen insisted on paying him
deceased parents. I thought, “How lucky we are arbitrator, my sister Eileen, who somehow saw more, he said, “I didn’t do it on company time. I
that will never happen to us.” Somehow, we through the fog. But as Mandy’s mother and built it at home so I won’t charge you for the
easily and peacefully divided Mom’s Joanne’s sister, could Eileen handle this labor.” He pointed to the new manger. “I hope
belongings—furniture, jewelry and household dilemma fairly? Temporarily, she set aside the this helps your family have a merrier
items—among ourselves and a few charities. emotion of the dispute, and thought logically. Christmas.”
Although I expected there might be a tug of war The nativity set was just a wooden stable, not an Eileen left Brett with a large tip and a big
over her paintings, that never happened. Pretty irreplaceable masterpiece of art. The beauty was hug of thanks. When she got home and called
good considering there were five daughters and in the eye of the beholders, the perception of two Joanne and Mandy about her creative solution,
four grandchildren. No conflicts, squabbles or people who coveted a simple item owned by they were very happy and extremely relieved
disputes at all. Until we discovered the old someone they loved. Couldn’t a copy be that the problem was resolved. One phone call
nativity set in a box in Mom’s closet. created? Of course! She would order the wood later, Joanne and Mandy had agreed that Joanne
I remembered Mom telling the story of from the lumberyard and get someone to build a would take possession of the new stable as well
how she acquired the manger. An old friend who second manger. as some of the old figurines—including Mary,
did carpentry work gave it to my mom and dad The following day, Eileen went to Centre Joseph and the infant. Mandy would get to keep
as a Christmas gift when they were first married. Millwork and stood in line behind several the original—just as Nanny promised.
My sister, Eileen, however, remembers it contractors ordering lumber from a young man - Kathy Melia Levine
differently. Mom told her she found the crèche with a crewcut. He was wearing a tag with his
in a garbage can belonging to Mrs. Bingham, the name, Brett, written in green magic marker. (Continued on Page 42)
elderly lady who lived across the street from us. When Eileen’s turn came, she had to shout over
Unlike some of the ornate versions found the sound of buzzing saws. She pointed to the
in today’s stores, this manger was crafted from nativity set in her arms and told him the story,
dark wood and completely unadorned—just a explaining that it was causing a major rift
roof, a floor and a railing surrounding it. Though between her sister Joanne and her daughter
beautifully crafted, there was one flaw: one side Mandy. Brett took the stable from her, held it up
of the double gate in front was lopsided. Mom with one hand and laughed, “They’re fighting
filled it with three figurines to start—Mary, over this?”
Joseph and the Baby Jesus. For many years after, “Yes,” Eileen explained. “I know it
she continued to add others—the Wise Men, seems crazy, but it was my mother’s and they
shepherds, angels, and animals. As kids, we both loved her very much. Is there any way you
loved the annual rites of the Christmas season, could measure and cut some wood so we could