Christmas is a great time of happy and togetherness, but it’s easy to forget that many people face difficulties during the season and may not feel its warmth. Therefore, the fascination of the holidays has a way of appearing unexpectedly, passing difficult moments into bright, uplifting ones, and reminding us that joy is always within reach.

Story 1:

When I was 8, my class had a Christmas gift exchange. My family was so poor we couldn’t afford a gift, so I wrapped one of my dad’s old books in reused gift paper and gave it to my classmate. She, in return, had given me the latest Barbie. When she saw my gift, she started crying.

The next day, her mom came to school, looking serious and asking for me. Suddenly, she started smiling when she saw me and her expression softened. She handed me a bag filled with gifts—the Barbie’s matching car, a Ken doll, and brand-new holiday clothes. I was overwhelmed.