A Stranger’s Love
From Chicken Soup for the Soul: The Spirit of Christmas
By Amber May

We can only be said to be alive in those moments when our hearts are conscious of our treasures.
~Thornton Wilder

It was the first day of December. Our home was freshly decorated with stockings and garland, and boxes of tree decorations littered the living-room floor. Christmas music was playing softly in the background, blending in with the childish chatter that echoed through the kitchen. I spent the whole morning baking with my two young children. The aroma of cookies wafted through the house, mingling with the scent of a pine candle flickering on our dining-room table.

Despite the merry atmosphere around me, I was exhausted and feeling a bit discouraged. First-trimester morning sickness had left me depleted and running on empty. (Keep reading)