Christmas Spider
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I was out shopping for last-minute Christmas gifts when I heard the story. It came from a lady who was buying some stocking stuffers, and it’s one of those stories you hear over the holidays that make you smile. But this time, her eyes were wet with tears—and there was no doubt in my mind why they were there.
The lady said she had gone to the toy store looking for something nice to give her grandchildren at Christmas. She told me about how hard it is getting for her these days. The children are grown now and living on their own, but even so, they don’t have much.
And though things may be tough for them financially, she says that nothing really matters more than having family around for the holidays—especially when there aren’t many other people nearby to enjoy the season with.
They’re not religious, by any means, but they’re all together at home—just like her mother taught her as a girl—so they can celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ in the only way she knows how. That’s what makes the holiday special; that’s what makes Christmas special. That’s what makes her happy.
She went on to say that she was just about to go ahead and get herself a little gift before wrapping everything up, then she spotted a small boy in the corner of the shop. He had dark brown hair and wore his winter coat buttoned up high against the cold.
His eyes were wide as he watched the lady carefully choose each item she put into her basket, never saying anything or asking to play with anything. The lady explained that while the boy wasn’t exactly shy, he didn’t seem inclined to make himself known either. Still, she was sure that he must have been lonely and bored, so she offered to let him help carry the bags to the car.
As they walked outside, the woman told the boy that he could pick out whatever toys he wanted in exchange for helping with the bags. At first, the little boy just stared blankly at her, like she was speaking an alien language.
Then, suddenly, he looked down and saw the packages under her arm. For a long moment, he just stood there, holding the bag in front of him and staring at it. But after another moment, he seemed to understand what the lady meant.
He reached inside the bag, grabbed two items at random, and gave them back to the lady. Then he turned toward the toy section again and started digging through all the different displays in search of two more toys.
By this point, the lady had finished packing everything up into the car. As soon as they got home, the little boy ran off to his room, and then his mother came in and sat down beside her. “Is something wrong?” she asked, noticing that the lady was crying. “What happened?”
“Oh, nothing,” the lady said quickly. “Just a sad story.”
“You don’t want to tell me, do you? You don’t think I’d care…”
“No, no, I wouldn’t mean for you to… It’s just, sometimes when we’re out doing our shopping, I hear all kinds of stories. I’ve been around long enough to know that things are tough nowadays for everyone. I see how people struggle just to feed their families and keep a roof over their heads.”
“That’s true,” she agreed, wiping away a tear. “We’re not hurting as badly as some people, but it seems like every year gets harder to live on less than what used to come easy. We have to stretch our food budget further and still buy Christmas presents for the kids, too.
So when we finally manage to find something that will fit into the budget and won’t cause us to lose money, we try to be smart and make it count. Sometimes we end up saving up a little extra for something else the kids might need in the future, so we’re always careful with what we spend.
I guess it just caught me by surprise when I saw what that boy did today because I don’t think we’ll ever have anything that he would want so much that he’d give it away like that.”
“Well, he didn’t give them away, ma’am. He chose them to keep and made sure the lady knew where they were going. And besides, they weren’t toys. They were gifts from Santa Claus, which he knows that you know.”
It was the look on the lady’s face that stopped me cold. Her eyes had welled up once again, and I could see she wanted very much to believe it.
“Oh! Really?” she asked tentatively, like a child who doesn’t quite want to admit they know the truth.
The old man nodded gravely.
“Then why didn’t he tell me when we met?” she wondered aloud. “Why didn’t he tell me about all the wonderful things he can do?”
“Because he wants you to believe. He wants to give your heart something beautiful to hold onto during times that are hard.”
The lady’s face fell, and she turned toward the window. “He’s not real,” she whispered. “I should have known better than to expect anything good out of this world anymore.” She sighed heavily, and her shoulders sagged.
But just as suddenly as they drooped, her chin lifted again. A smile crept across her lips as if a weight had been lifted from her shoulders. “Well, maybe I can still have my dream,” she said, looking down at her husband.
“Maybe I can have it here in this house with all these children and grandchildren to share it with. I don’t mind waiting, anyway. If this is what I have to do in order to keep my family close, then I’m happy to wait.”
Her husband smiled back at her warmly. “Me too, honey,” he agreed. “Whatever you want!”
***
In the following months, the woman continued to receive gifts every time she went shopping at the store where she bought most of her groceries. In one instance, she was carrying a large basket filled with her purchases when she passed by a small girl who was staring wide-eyed at all the boxes of candy.
The girl’s eyes glowed when she spotted a particular box of peppermint sticks on sale for half off, but she didn’t have enough money to buy it. Without even thinking, the woman placed the bag she was holding down inside the basket before walking over to help the young girl pick out a few treats to take home to her family.
The man behind the cash register watched the whole thing, shaking his head.
“I wonder if they know who that generous lady is,” he mumbled to himself as he rang up the customer’s groceries. “They probably think she’s just another crazy old lady trying to get attention.”
The old lady paid for her items without saying anything. She left the store, and the clerk shook his head again.
“How do they let someone like that walk among us?” he grumbled under his breath.
***
A few weeks later, when the man came in to do his weekly grocery shopping, he noticed the same elderly woman pushing a cart overflowing with groceries toward the checkouts. When he got closer to her, he recognized the look on her face.
He had seen that same expression dozens of times in his lifetime, and it meant trouble for any employee. The man looked around the crowded aisle, making sure no one was within earshot, then he approached the woman and spoke softly.
“What are you doing? Can’t you afford those groceries?”
The lady turned to face him, her brow furrowed and her arms crossed firmly across her chest. “Why should I spend my money on stuff I don’t even need when there are people out there who could use it more? I’ve already spent way too much this month.”
“You’re going to run yourself ragged if you keep this up. You can’t take care of everyone, so you need to choose who needs your help.”
She scoffed. “Are you telling me how to live my life now?”
“That’s exactly what I’m telling you.”
The woman turned and stormed past the old man, and he stood frozen watching her go until she disappeared into the crowd. The old man turned and headed back to his post, his face red from the heat of embarrassment.
***
Several years later, the elderly woman found herself walking through the crowded mall, weaving in and out of the throng of people who had gathered in the food court. Every now and then, she’d spot a familiar face or someone who looked familiar—someone who might have been one of the children whose lives she had touched in some small way.
The old man followed close behind, keeping a sharp eye out for anyone who might come after his wife, afraid she would be caught unaware.
Suddenly, the old woman halted her progress and spun around to face the man behind her. He stepped back, shocked at the change in her demeanor. Her eyes were bright and shining, and she wore an ear-to-ear smile.
“There you are!” she called out excitedly as she took his hands in hers. “Where did you go?”
“Home,” he answered curtly, his voice full of resentment. “I told you before I wasn’t going to do this anymore.”
“I didn’t ask you to, but I’m glad you changed your mind. Come on! Let’s go find our little girl.”
He stared at her, unsure if he should trust her again after everything she had put him through, but he couldn’t deny how happy he felt to see her standing before him, looking like she hadn’t aged a day since the last time he saw her. He squeezed her hand gently in reassurance, and together they began to walk through the crowds, searching for someone who was special to them both.
***
It’s funny. Sometimes we get so caught up in our daily routines and busy schedules that we forget what’s really important: loving others unconditionally and sharing what we have with those who need it more.
As we grow older, however, these things seem less possible than ever because we feel overwhelmed by all the responsibilities that come along with being an adult. We tend to lose sight of the simple joys in life, and when we finally realize how much we’ve missed out on, it’s often too late.
The story above is fiction, but it has a message that’s very real. There are hundreds of thousands of people all over the world who have lost touch with their true selves and forgotten why they decided to begin their journeys in the first place. They’ve given up hope and settled for mediocrity instead of working hard and achieving something truly meaningful and worthwhile.
Don’t make that mistake. You only live once; you owe it to yourself to follow your dreams no matter what. Never stop living.
Do you remember what you wanted to be when you grew up?
If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t give up. It may seem difficult right now, but it will happen. I promise you that. And if you need to start small, just start moving. Do something every single day that helps you move toward your goal, no matter how big or small it is. One step at a time is all it takes. The journey won’t always be easy, but you’ll never regret taking the chance.
Remember that life isn’t about getting what you want. Life is about giving what you have. If you give from the heart, it doesn’t really matter whether you achieve your goals or not—you’ll still be blessed because you lived a purposeful life. Your legacy will live on through your actions and choices.
As humans, we have many responsibilities to fulfill. We need to take care of our families and loved ones, but most importantly, we must learn to love ourselves so we can pass on what we have learned to others. We need to teach our kids to dream big while we show them the path to achieving success, even if it means overcoming hardships and challenges along the way.
We need to show them that nothing worth having comes easily, but it’s all worth fighting for in the end. Our children are our future; we need to raise them well and prepare them for all that lies ahead so they don’t fall victim to society’s corrupt ways.
Teach them about compassion, respect, integrity, courage, honesty, and unconditional love. Give them the tools they need to succeed in life so they won’t have to struggle like we did.
Be a role model for them by showing them how to treat others with kindness and respect. Be open and honest with your feelings and let them know that it’s okay to cry sometimes. Don’t hide your emotions; instead, share them with others and help them understand the struggles you’ve endured throughout the years.
Tell them that it’s okay to fail. Help them overcome their fears by encouraging them to face their challenges head-on and work through them rather than letting them get in the way of their ambitions. Show them that there’s no such thing as failure—only lessons to be learned.
Most of all, tell them that they’re capable of anything they set their minds to accomplish. Nothing can stand in their way, not even themselves.
You hold the power in your hands to change the world around you by simply changing yourself. All you have to do is believe.
***
“I’m sorry,” she said quietly, her voice quivering as tears streamed down her cheeks. “This…it wasn’t supposed to end like this.”
“What’s wrong?” he asked in confusion. “Why are you crying?”
She wiped her eyes and sniffed, trying hard not to cry in front of him. She took a deep breath as she tried to calm herself. “It’s my fault,” she whispered. “I knew better but…I didn’t listen. I didn’t trust myself enough to believe what I was seeing. Now, look where it’s gotten us…what I’ve done to you.”
“Stop it,” he said sternly. “I would never blame you for any of this, nor would I ever resent you for staying by my side. I love you too much for either of those things, and I’m grateful that you believed in me when nobody else did.”
He wrapped his arm around her waist, pulling her close so they could share an embrace. He kissed her head gently before whispering in her ear: “Thank you for choosing me, for giving me another chance to make things right again after everything that happened. Thank you for saving me.”
She smiled softly. “My pleasure.”
He leaned back and looked into her eyes. “I’m glad you came home, sweetheart. My life was missing you terribly.”
They both laughed a little as he hugged her tightly against his body. “Now, what are we going to do about this situation?”
She shrugged and nodded at the same time. “Yeah, what are we gonna do? We can’t exactly go home like this. What would we tell everyone who saw us?”
“Exactly! It’ll be so embarrassing!” she cried, laughing. “No one wants to see that!”
He chuckled a bit nervously. “Well, at least you know it’s bad now.”
“Yes, yes it is.” Her smile faded as her brows furrowed with concern. “I just want to make sure you’re okay, and…if it’s all right if I stay here for a little while longer?”
“Of course, baby,” he said, smiling warmly. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”
***
A few hours later, they were sitting on the couch watching TV when the phone rang.
“Is that my mom?” she asked.
“Probably,” he said. He stood up and walked over to the table where the phone sat. “I’ll get it. You finish what you’re watching first.”
She turned off the TV and grabbed her purse from the kitchen counter, putting on her shoes as she headed toward the living room. The last thing she wanted was for her mother to hear her crying or asking questions about why she was in trouble and not him. That would only make things worse, which was exactly what she intended to avoid.
She opened the door and peeked outside, making sure that no one was around. When she was certain that her mom couldn’t see her, she stepped out onto the porch and answered the call.
“Hello?” she said, a hint of uncertainty in her voice.
“Hi, Mom,” he said. “How’d you sleep?”
“Oh, well…it’s been a long night, honey.”
Her voice was strained and tired like she hadn’t slept in days. There was an odd sense of desperation in it as well that made her stomach drop. A part of her knew that something horrible had happened, and another part of her wished she could deny it, pretend that none of this was real. But there was no denying what she heard in her mother’s tone.
“Are you alright?” he asked.
“Well, yeah,” she said in a shaky voice, but her shoulders sagged with defeat. “I think so.”
There was a moment of silence as her heart beat faster and sweat began to form on her forehead. “Honey, what’s going on?” he asked. “What’s wrong? Why are you calling me so early? Where’s Dad?”
His question was met with another pause, this one filled with hesitation and doubt as if he already knew the answer to his own question. It felt as though someone else was speaking through her mouth because it was the last person she would have expected to hear those words come out of her mother’s lips.
“Your father went into surgery a little while ago,” she said quietly. “They found out that…he has cancer.”
Tears welled up in her eyes as she fought to keep them at bay. “What?”
“They caught it really early, so they say. They removed several tumors. It’s too early to tell how severe it is yet. But…” her voice trailed off.
“Mom, please don’t do this,” he begged. “Please don’t let anything happen to Dad. Please…don’t do this to me.”
“I’m sorry, honey,” she whispered. “I know it hurts you, and I wish there was more I could do.” She paused for a moment before continuing. “But I need you to do something for me.”
He waited silently.
“Promise me that you will be strong for your dad. Don’t blame yourself; nothing is ever anyone’s fault when it comes to these things. And please try not to worry—I’m going to do everything in my power to make sure he has the best care possible.”
“I promise,” he said.
The line disconnected, and she stared at the receiver in disbelief.
He took in a sharp breath beside her. “Oh God, oh no, I can’t believe this! Are you okay?”
She shook her head, still unable to comprehend what he had just told her.
“I gotta go,” he said. “I’ll talk to you soon.”
“I love you,” she said.
“I love you too, baby girl,” he replied. “I’ll call you as soon as I find out anything else.” He hung up the phone and rushed back inside.
She followed closely behind him, trying to catch her breath after the shock wore off and her tears stopped falling. The pain of his father being sick suddenly became much heavier than what she had originally thought it was.
Now, she didn’t just hurt herself, but her whole family. It wasn’t fair. This shouldn’t be happening. She should be worrying about her grades and her future and college applications instead of losing her dad and possibly watching her mom lose hers as well.
“I’m sorry,” she said, wiping away her tears with the back of her hand.
He put his arm around her and pulled her close to him. “You don’t have to apologize, honey. I’ve never seen you cry before, and now all of a sudden you’re sobbing like a little kid. It makes me feel bad for you.”
“I know,” she sniffled, holding on tighter. “It’s just hard…everything is so complicated right now.”
“Everything will work out,” he said. “Don’t you worry about that?”
The End