A Surprise Gift for Mother On Christmas Day, all the joys of a close family relationship radiated throughout our parents' home. The smells of roasted turkey, Southern-baked ham and homemade bread hung in the air. Tables and chairs were set up everywhere to accommodate toddlers, teenagers, parents and grandparents. Every room was lavishly decorated. No family member had ever missed Christmas Day with our mother and father. Only this year, things were different. Our father had passed away November 26, and this was our first Christmas without him. Mother was doing her best to be the gracious hostess, but I could tell this was especially hard for her. I felt a catch in my throat, and again I wondered if I should give her my planned Christmas gift, or if it had become inappropriate in my father's absence. A few months earlier I had been putting the finishing touches on portraits I had painted of each of my parents. I'd planned to give them as Christmas gifts. This would be a surprise for everyone, as I had not studied art or tried serious painting. There had been an undeniable urge within that pushed me relentlessly to do this. The portraits did look like them, but I was still unsure of my painting techniques. While painting one day, I was surprised by a doorbell ring. Quickly putting all my painting materials out of sight, I opened the door. To my astonishment, my father ambled in alone, never before having visited me without my mother. Grinning, he said, ôI've missed our early morning talks. You know, the ones we had before you decided to leave me for another man!ö I hadn't been married long. Also, I was the only girl and the baby of the family. Immediately I wanted to show him the paintings, but I was reluctant to ruin his Christmas surprise. Yet something urged me to share this moment with him. After swearing him to secrecy, I insisted he keep his eyes closed until I had the portraits set on easels. ôOkay, Daddy. Now you can look!ö He appeared dazed but said nothing. Getting up, he walked closer to inspect them. Then he withdrew to eye them at a distance. I tried to control my stomach flip flops. Finally, with a tear escaping down one cheek, he mumbled, ôI don't believe it. The eyes are so real that they follow you everywhereùand look how beautiful your mother is. Will you let me have them framed?ö Thrilled with his response, I happily volunteered to drop them off the next day at the frame shop. Several weeks passed. Then one night in November the phone rang, and a cold chill numbed my body. I picked up the receiver to hear my husband, a doctor, say, ôI'm in the emergency room. Your father has had a stroke. It's bad, but he is still alive.ö Daddy lingered in a coma for several days. I went to see him in the hospital the day before he died. I slipped my hand in his and asked, ôDo you know who I am, Daddy?ö He surprised everyone when he whispered, ôYouÆre my darling daughter.ö He died the next day, and it seemed all joy wa Excerpted from Chicken Soup for the Grieving Soul: Stories about Life, Death and Overcoming the Loss of a Loved One by Jack L. Canfield, Mark Victor Hansen All rights reserved by the original copyright owners. Excerpts are provided for display purposes only and may not be reproduced, reprinted or distributed without the written permission of the publisher.
