Open Doors....

I just had one of the most wonderful Christmases of my life. No, I didn't get a new car, or diamonds, or anything spectacular. I got something much more important.

Open doors...

Yes, doors played an important role in my Christmas, believe it or not. It started with the new front door that isn't painted yet. Yes, I have started it, but it has not cooperated much. Something about paint, fiberglass and cold weather. I am not sure which was the main culprit but, they got together and ended my hopes of having a new door hung by Christmas.

Now, that didn't really bother me. I decided, early in December, that it didn't matter. I could spend my little bit of time off arguing with the door, or decorating the house for Christmas. It dawned on me that I could make a valiant attempt to finish the door and then, my friend, Steve, could say that he didn't have time to hang it for me.

It was Christmastime, you know.

And so, I decided not to try to paint it. With his help, we moved it into the guest room and called it a “decoration.” It will get finished this spring, when the weather is better. And then it will get hung, and next year, it will look beautiful, with its Christmas wreath in place.

All the doors got into the spirit of Christmas this year. Not with decorations but, by opening and closing, all day and evening long, for three days. I can say, without a doubt, that I have an open door policy at my house. Wonderful people, my special people, were in and out for the last three days.

I have an alarm system, too. So, comings and goings were announced by the beep beep beep beep of the alarm. When I heard it, I would go see who had arrived. It was always someone I wanted to see.

And the doors have a symbolic meaning to me, too. My house was filled with people who used to be married, and have remarried, and children from different marriages, and children who are cousins for their own reasons.

At one point, a former daughter-in-law of mine invited my granddaughter to go to her relative's home for dessert, and my granddaughter wanted to go. I told her that she might not know very many people there and her response was “So?”.....and off she went.

The age difference among the cousins and “cousins” didn't seem to matter, either. There were kids everywhere and things to do and see. Watching 10-year-olds greet each other with hugs is heartwarming, to say the least.

Adults were comfortable and calm and cheerful and kind. We were together because we wanted to be, and nothing else mattered. As I sat and listened to the conversations, I was overjoyed by the atmosphere that had been created: love and laughter were in abundance.

Doors to hearts were open, too.