to talk about her own personal pain out loud.
“I know,” Daisy went on. “I know you lost your mom and dad too. I’m very sorry. Maybe we can help each other this Christmas.”
Alexandra stared at her intently. Daisy saw the emotions, even though no word was spoken. Apprehension, sadness, and then curiosity.
“You know what Dr. Ben always says. “Together we can do what we can’t do alone.””
Alexandra nodded.
“Well, maybe you could help me here. I’m going to make angel costumes. Want to help?”
Alexandra nodded again, with a little smile, and Daisy felt her heart soar. Even her own burden of the holiday seemed lessened by the thought that Alexandra might be willingly involved.
They made a great team. During the next week, they used every spare minute for the costumes. Ben helped as much as he could, cherishing the moments spent wit h Daisy and Alexandra, watching her simple, caring way with the overly shy, traumatized girl. With gentleness and understanding, she pulled the child in, made her feel important and worthwhile. His heart fell more in love with Daisy every minute. And though not a word had passed Alexandra’s lips, he saw the light grow in Alexandra’s troubled eyes as she bonded with Daisy.
****
Daisy was cordial and professional, spending a lot of time in Ben’s presence as she did her work. She watched him, aware of the strong feelings that lurked. He had certainly found a place in her heart since that day when he had offered his care and comfort. But she pushed the feelings away, they were just too overwhelming. It was best when she was diving back into the work at hand, knowing that the rules that had been established years ago when she had lost her parents were her safest bet. Love the people around you in a special way, a helping way, but never let another person all the way into her shaky and unpredictable heart.
With Ben’s help, they gathered bathrobes for the many multi -sized shepherds, towels and headbands to complete their look. With piles of donated white sheets, they styled simple robes for the many angels, using pieces of shiny gold curtain rope for belts. Alexandra showed herself to be both creative and hard working. Together they made sets of wings to be attached to each angel robe. As she set aside each simply made costume, designed on a budget, and using used and convenient materials, she thought back to the early days in her life, and her involvement in the church her father had pastored .
She thought of the voluminous angel robes they had at their affluent church in California, the beaded cloaks and glitzy headpieces of the three kings. The same Christmas story, a different set of circumstances. How she had loved Christmas. And how she had cut herself off from any emotion or enjoyment of the holiday since then. As she worked on angel wings, she faced the realization she had cut herself off from much more than Christmas. She had cut herself off from any personal involvement of the heart.
Was she healing? Could she heal? Daisy could work with the angel robes now, without her eyes tearing up. In the distance, she could hear the staff running through scenes from the pageant. The carols, she still knew , the words echoing through the halls as the children rehearsed. Hearing the songs still felt like being poked with a hot poker. She sighed. It was going to be a long process.
Alexandra worked silently beside her, sewing each piece of the project with attention and responsibility. Daisy watched her, feeling proud of the young woman. And happy she had dared to face her fears and offer to help Alexandra. And that Alexandra had been willing to try. Not only was Alexandra happier as she got involved and felt a part of things, but Daisy realized that helping Alexandra, had in fact, helped herself. Was that the key to healing? To offer a hand of help to someone else in dire straits? The thought gave
“I know,” Daisy went on. “I know you lost your mom and dad too. I’m very sorry. Maybe we can help each other this Christmas.”
Alexandra stared at her intently. Daisy saw the emotions, even though no word was spoken. Apprehension, sadness, and then curiosity.
“You know what Dr. Ben always says. “Together we can do what we can’t do alone.””
Alexandra nodded.
“Well, maybe you could help me here. I’m going to make angel costumes. Want to help?”
Alexandra nodded again, with a little smile, and Daisy felt her heart soar. Even her own burden of the holiday seemed lessened by the thought that Alexandra might be willingly involved.
They made a great team. During the next week, they used every spare minute for the costumes. Ben helped as much as he could, cherishing the moments spent wit h Daisy and Alexandra, watching her simple, caring way with the overly shy, traumatized girl. With gentleness and understanding, she pulled the child in, made her feel important and worthwhile. His heart fell more in love with Daisy every minute. And though not a word had passed Alexandra’s lips, he saw the light grow in Alexandra’s troubled eyes as she bonded with Daisy.
****
Daisy was cordial and professional, spending a lot of time in Ben’s presence as she did her work. She watched him, aware of the strong feelings that lurked. He had certainly found a place in her heart since that day when he had offered his care and comfort. But she pushed the feelings away, they were just too overwhelming. It was best when she was diving back into the work at hand, knowing that the rules that had been established years ago when she had lost her parents were her safest bet. Love the people around you in a special way, a helping way, but never let another person all the way into her shaky and unpredictable heart.
With Ben’s help, they gathered bathrobes for the many multi -sized shepherds, towels and headbands to complete their look. With piles of donated white sheets, they styled simple robes for the many angels, using pieces of shiny gold curtain rope for belts. Alexandra showed herself to be both creative and hard working. Together they made sets of wings to be attached to each angel robe. As she set aside each simply made costume, designed on a budget, and using used and convenient materials, she thought back to the early days in her life, and her involvement in the church her father had pastored .
She thought of the voluminous angel robes they had at their affluent church in California, the beaded cloaks and glitzy headpieces of the three kings. The same Christmas story, a different set of circumstances. How she had loved Christmas. And how she had cut herself off from any emotion or enjoyment of the holiday since then. As she worked on angel wings, she faced the realization she had cut herself off from much more than Christmas. She had cut herself off from any personal involvement of the heart.
Was she healing? Could she heal? Daisy could work with the angel robes now, without her eyes tearing up. In the distance, she could hear the staff running through scenes from the pageant. The carols, she still knew , the words echoing through the halls as the children rehearsed. Hearing the songs still felt like being poked with a hot poker. She sighed. It was going to be a long process.
Alexandra worked silently beside her, sewing each piece of the project with attention and responsibility. Daisy watched her, feeling proud of the young woman. And happy she had dared to face her fears and offer to help Alexandra. And that Alexandra had been willing to try. Not only was Alexandra happier as she got involved and felt a part of things, but Daisy realized that helping Alexandra, had in fact, helped herself. Was that the key to healing? To offer a hand of help to someone else in dire straits? The thought gave
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