The turkey had been eaten, the leftovers packed away and grandma was ready to tuck herself into bed. Cruz, however, had a different plan in mind.
His eyes filled with tears as we stuffed him into his jacket and covered his head with a hat. He reached into his pockets and pulled out the sidewalk chalk he had brought from home. Dropping to his knees, he began creating his masterpiece on grandma and grandpa’s garage floor. As other cousins joined in, grandpa reluctantly grabbed more sidewalk chalk from atop the basement fridge.
After several minutes we announced the deadline and we were firm in getting the kids to their awaiting vehicles which had been warming in the driveway. Cruz protested with all of the passion his little five-year-old body could muster.
“I’m not finished! I’m not finished!” He screamed with tears forming in his eyes.
Dad picked up the flailing child with one hand and his two pieces of sidewalk chalk in the other and carried them all to the car. Buckling Cruz in, dad asked, “What did you want to do to finish your drawing?”
Cruz, still choking back the tears, softly said, “I wanted to write ‘I love you.’”
As we enter this holiday season, I am so grateful for a family that knows how to love and shares that love with the world. If anyone needs to know it, Cruz loves you!
