When I think about the past year, I remember how much my grandmother changed my life. Her death left a hole that can’t be filled, but she had one last treat for my family and me. It was a present for Christmas that would make things different.
For months, my grandma had been stuck in bed, and I had been with her the whole time. As her health got worse, she called me to her bedroom and whispered one last wish into my ear. She told me to get a small ceramic box from the attic and keep it secret until Christmas morning.
I almost forgot about her request, but on Christmas Eve, her words came back to me like a storm. I quickly went to the attic and looked through the dusty trunks and boxes until I found the pretty china box. I put it next to my bed because I couldn’t wait to open it in the morning.
I found a letter and a key in the box when I opened it on Christmas morning. I had always been interested in an old closet in the living room, and the note led me to it. Grandma always told me not to open it, but now I had the key.
When I opened the closet door, I found a great trove of photos, journals, and emails. There were three letters: one for me, one for my dad, and one for my mum. They came into the living room when I called them, and we read our letters together.
The letters were a beautiful way for Grandma to show how much she loved us. She gave each of us a unique gift to remember her love and memory. Along with a beautiful silk scarf for my mother, my father got a rare book on ship models, and I got a scholarship to help pay for school.
We could feel Grandma with us as we read our letters and opened our gifts. It looked like she had planned one last Christmas treat to show how much she loved and cared for them. The rest of the day, we laughed and cried together as we told stories and remembered Grandma.
The gift my grandmother gave me on Christmas morning was not just a surprise, as I remember it now. It made me think about how important family, love, and leaving a memory are. In her death, she showed us that her love and spirit could still bring us hope and help.
As we celebrate Christmas without Grandma, I think of the gift she gave us that will last forever. I know that her love and influence will always be with me, and that her memory will always make me want to live my best life.
