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love very much.
     Isn’t that right, Mommy?”
    “That’s right, honey.”
    Steve and Cindy forgot about Jessica’s conversation until the next morning as they were getting ready for the day. First Steve,
     then Cindy spotted something near the nativity scene set up on the living room floor. It was Molly, Jessica’s precious baby
     doll. She had laid it tenderly at the feet of the baby Jesus.
    That afternoon while Steve was at the office Cindy studied Jessica as she napped. What was the point of the pastor’s message?
     she wondered. If love was such a great gift how come her marriage was dissolving? How come Jessica had cerebral palsy? The
     child loved God enough to give him her Molly doll. But what had God ever done for her, for any of them?
    Cindy returned to the main room and sat alone listening to the haunting sounds of Christmas carols on the radio. She wanted
     to believe, but still the thought remained. What had the Christ child ever done for them?
    When Steve returned late that night Cindy was already in bed. But before he slipped under the sheets next to her she felt
     him do something he hadn’t done in months. He leaned over and gently kissed her good night.
    The next day was Christmas Eve and Steve was gone to work when Cindy woke up. She climbed out of bed, fixed breakfast for
     Jessica, and led her through two hours of stretches and exercises. Only then, just before lunchtime, did she again notice
     something unusual about the nativity scene. Molly’s doll was gone and now a manila envelope lay at the foot of the manger.
    Curiously Cindy approached it and took the envelope in her hands. There on the outside were these words scribbled in Steve’s
     handwriting.
    “Lord, I have something to lay at your feet. Something I love very much. I give you my word: from now on I will accept Jessica
     as she is. I have been horribly unfair to my family by pretending she will one day be different than who you made her to be.
     I understand now. Jessica can only learn to live with her cerebral palsy if I learn to live with it first.” Cindy opened the
     package and there, inside, were the unused pink ballet slippers that had hung on Jessica’s wall for four years.
    Cindy curved her fingers around the slippers and allowed the tears to come. She cried because her little girl would never
     wear them, never dance as her father had once dreamed. But she also cried because if Steve was finally ready to accept the
     truth, then maybe he was ready to work with her and not against her. Maybe there was hope after all.
    She wiped her eyes and looked at the carved figurine of the Christ child and suddenly the answer to her question became clear.
     Jesus had given them himself. Because of him they could learn to love again. With him they could survive as a family. And
     through him they could live eternally in a place where Jessica could run and play and jump with the other children.
    Cindy fell to her knees and hung her head. “Forgive me, Lord.” And as she stayed there she began to wonder what a flawed woman
     like herself could give to one so holy.
    Her tears slowed and quietly she tiptoed into Jessica’s room and watched her napping. This time she felt no bitterness toward
     God as she studied the small girl. Golden ringlets softly framed her pretty face and Cindy saw only peace and contentment
     there as deep in her heart a light dawned. In that moment, with all her being, she was absolutely certain about what she would
     give to Jesus.
    That night when Steve came home the house was dark but for the lights around the nativity scene. He studied the figurines
     standing around the Christ child and saw that his envelope was gone. In its place was a smaller white one. Steve crossed the
     room, set down his overcoat and briefcase, and slid a finger under the flap. Inside was a single sheet of paper and something
     small wrapped in tissue paper. Steve read the handwritten note with tears in his eyes.
    “Dear Lord, I give