Santa Ornament

Santa Ornament 

As a child, I was always sensitive to the world around me. I couldn’t stand to see anything get hurt, whether it was a person or something as small as an insect. My heart was tender, always tuned to the feelings of others, and I carried that sensitivity with me in everything I did.

One Christmas when I was five, I had an experience that would stay with me for years. We had a treasured crystal Santa Claus ornament, a delicate and beautiful piece that held a special place in our family’s holiday traditions. That year, it was my turn to hang it on the tree. I was so proud to be given that responsibility, feeling as though I was participating in something magical.

I climbed the ladder carefully, the ornament in my small hands, and reached as high as I could to place it in a perfect spot among the branches. But just as I thought I had done it, the ornament slipped. It bounced off the branches, falling in slow motion, and shattered on the floor.

In that moment, my heart broke along with the crystal pieces. To me, Santa Claus wasn’t just a figure of holiday cheer; he represented someone I loved and respected. Seeing that ornament shattered felt like a personal failure like I had somehow let down this beloved figure. I burst into tears, inconsolable as the weight of what had happened settled over me. My mother tried her best to comfort me, but nothing could erase the sense of loss and guilt I felt. 

That moment stayed with me for a long time, a vivid reminder of how deeply I felt things as a child. The broken ornament was more than just a piece of glass; it was a symbol of how much I cared, and how much it hurt when something precious was lost.