The first fall of snow is not only a weather event, it is a magical event. You go to bed in one kind of a world and wake up in another, it’s beautiful. You know that Santa’s back in town. That’s when it’s Christmas time again.

Noelle watched the snow dance in the light, a choreographed ballet conducted by the gentle wind. She watched from her window as the street had become a fresh new page awaiting her playful feet and mittened hands. She leaped out of bed and pulled on her coat. As soon as she was outside the cold breeze blew in her hair. Noelle then jumped on top of the fluffy snow with glee, finally feeling as if nothing existed. It was just her and the cold, crisp snow.

After an hour of being outside, her hands began to grow cold, so she decided to head inside for the day. Once Noelle finished taking off her coat and shoes, she made a cup of hot chocolate and turned on her favorite Christmas movie. By the time her movie was over, Noelle was fast asleep, probably dreaming of something Christmas-related.

The next day, Noelle went to bring gifts to the local homeless center. She had bought about 20 gifts for children in need. Noelle then placed the many gifts under the tree and waited for the kids to come in from playing outside. A little later, the wooden door crept open, and a wave of small feet came rushing toward the tree, now covered with presents all wrapped in pretty bows. Noelle started laughing as all the kids cried with glee and excitement. They didn’t know that it was her who got them the gifts, but she did, and that made it all the better. As the kids opened the gifts of dolls and toy cars, their smiles grew ten times bigger than before. Filled with so much happiness, Noelle almost cried. Christmas is the spirit of giving without a thought of getting. It is happiness because we see the joy in people. It is forgetting self and finding time for others. It is discarding the meaningless and stressing the true values. Peace on earth.

Life is precious, a gift wrapped in a bow. But, what’s the bow you ask? The ribbon makes the wrapped box look complete. Well, for Noelle, it was just being able to live, there was no bow that made life feel more complete. To be able to enjoy hot chocolate, to mail Christmas cards to your loved ones, to make a snow fort and pretend you rule the world, to find the perfect Christmas tree, to see someone’s smile grow as they open a gift. That is what life is about, it’s those little moments because one day you will realize they were the big things. Oh, it really is a wonderful life.