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after that their lives grew even more separate. They communicated only when necessary and began
     socializing in separate circles. Cindy joined a cerebral palsy support group and finally found the understanding she’d been
     missing. The members of the support group did not deny Jessica’s problems but rather brainstormed with her for solutions.
    Meanwhile, Steve had been given a promotion and with it the task of organizing after-work events. His office friends were
     cheerful and upbeat and Steve was often the life of the party. He liked them because they did not know about Jessica’s cerebral
     palsy and so they never talked about muscle coordination or support groups or daily exercises.
    Often, entire weeks went by where Steve and Cindy saw each other only minutes at a time, silently passing each other like
     strangers in the hallways of the Warner home.
    It was in her fourth year that Jessica had noticed something was wrong with her mommy and daddy. They didn’t kiss and hug
     and hold hands like other parents. And by this Christmas Jessica knew there was only one answer. So each night before she
     fell asleep Jessica would whisper her simple prayer, asking God to make her mommy and daddy love each other. But it hadn’t
     seemed to make a difference.
    Finally, two weeks before Christmas, Steve took Cindy’s hand gently in his own and studied her face. “It isn’t working between
     us, is it?” he asked her.
    Tears sprang to Cindy’s eyes but her gaze remained calmly fixed on Steve’s. “No, I guess it isn’t.”
    “I’ll talk to a divorce lawyer,” Steve said gently. “But let’s wait until after Christmas. For Jessica’s sake.”
    As with most children, Jessica could tell things were worse between her parents. She talked it over with Molly, her beloved
     dolly. “I’m asking God to make them love each other,” she said. “But they aren’t very nice to each other anymore. I’m scared,
     Molly. Really scared.”
    At dinner one night Jessica broke the silence. “Please, can we all go to church together this Sunday?” she asked. “Preacher’s
     going to tell the Christmas story and he said the whole family’s invited.”
    Steve and Cindy exchanged a cool glance and then looked away, embarrassed. Steve cleared his throat. “Yes, sweetheart, that’ll
     be fine,” he said. “We’ll all go to church together this Sunday. Like a family.”
    When Sunday came they dressed Jessica in a white satin dress and sat beside her for the first time in years. The service was
     put on by all the Christian churches in town and held at the high school auditorium as it was each year at that time. The
     message was of hope and joy, the story of the Christ child born to a weary world so that men might live forevermore. It was
     a message that was tried and true and in their private prisons of pain Steve and Cindy quietly realized the mistake they’d
     made by walking away from their faith.
    “God gave the greatest gift of all, the gift of pure love wrapped in flesh and bones, the gift of his son,” the minister’s
     voice rang clear. “But what of you? What will you give to the Savior this year.”
    There was silence in the auditorium.
    Tentatively, Steve ran a single finger along Jessica’s stiff legs.
    “I urge you,” the pastor added quietly, “to take time these next few days and lay something at the Savior’s feet. Something
     you love ... or something you need to leave behind. Perhaps something that should have been laid there a long time ago.”
    On the way home that morning Jessica turned to her father. “Did you hear him, Daddy?” she asked. “He said love is the greatest
     gift of all.”
    “Sure, honey,” Steve said, staring straight ahead at the road in front of him.
    “That’s what I’m getting for you and Mommy this year,” she announced merrily. “A whole lot of love.”
    Jessica thought a moment and then continued. “Preacher also said to give something to Jesus, something you