Christmas Through a Mother's Eyes

“Children’s children are a crown to the aged,
and parents are the pride of their children.”

Proverbs 17:6 NIV

It’s Christmas, and I can’t stop smiling. As a mom, I’m once again getting the most joy from watching my daughter experience the season.

Every time her eyes light up, I feel a flicker of warmth growing deep inside where I hold onto my most precious memories.

There’s just something special about experiencing the holidays from this view.

Of course she’s excited about all the presents, and it seems like every day she has something new to look forward to. She likes going to parades, driving around to look at lights, and having quiet nights at home watching Christmas movies or decorating cookies. Her December calendar is full, keeping her busy doing all the things that she loves to do.

I remember feeling that way.

When she was a little girl, December was my favorite month too. Every decision I made was designed to make her Christmas absolutely magical.

These days my little girl is the mom I used to be. I spend my days watching from a distance, my heart filled with that bittersweet mixture of joy and sadness that nostalgia always seems to bring my way.

No one told me back then how I would step back and see her face light up one day, how much it would mean to watch her plan the perfect Christmas for her little family.

No one prepared me for how much joy I would get simply by watching her experience all that the season means, how I would still remember all her past Christmas mornings.

I never knew then that someone was watching me too.

I wonder if she knows.