<<<~~~>>>

They
knew this
holiday
would be his last.
Yet, each festive preparation was made
as if the days left to them were endless.
Cookies were baked.

Cards were sent.
Their tree
was
donned
with glass
memories
and twinkling stars
that cast soft shadows when the lights were dimmed.
The house reverberated with laughter
and traditions

that filled its
corners
and
the
hearts of 
those who knew
that love dwelled there.

Love promised to stay even when the dark
specters of sadness would all too soon cast
their deathly pall
over them,
leaving
this
place
of life
and caring

an empty isle
of dear remembrance but not one regret.
Those were his final gifts to them that day.
As they gathered
together
one last
time,
he
just smiled
and thanked them -
each one of them -
for blessing his life with meaning and joy.
They were wise to treasure his precious words.
Abiding hope,
tender care,
laughter,

and
love
were the
true gifts of
this gentle man -
freely given to each of them over
the many years that his life had touched theirs.
No, Christmas would

never be
the same,
for
he
would be
gone from their
sight, but his love

would continue on in the laughter and
promise of his children and their children
casting its soft
shadow when
the lights
dimmed.

<<<~~~>>>