The Christmas Sweater

Over the last few years, watching and reading The Polar Express has become part of our Christmas family traditions. This year, I picked up a new book that I thought we could add to that tradition. The Christmas Sweater: A Picture Book, by Glenn Beck was released last year just in time for the holidays. I'll admit that I own The Christmas Sweater, the novel on which the picture book is based, released in 2008, but I have not read it yet. So when I sat down to read the book to the kids, the story of The Christmas Sweater was a surprise for all of us.

This very warm family-oriented tale incorporates the true spirit of Christmas through heartfelt storytelling. My kids were memorized with not only the words, but also the wonderful illustrations, with colors and details that fit just perfectly with the style. As I'm reading aloud I came to the line,

"See, when a gift is made by hand, all of that person's love is captured in it. Once they give it to you, that love turns into Christmas magic..."

My son audibly gasped and then smiled a great big smile. In turn I smiled because he seemed to love that statement.

Then it hit me, how over the last few years, I've started sewing clothes and other items for my family. While I love to make my girls dresses and pretty embellished shirts, it is my son who always asks me to make him things. I've made him so many pairs of pajama pants that I've lost count, but he is appreciative of each and every one.

At the end of the story, it reads;

"He (Eddie) walked over to his mother and gave her the best present in the world - one thing that her heart also needed the most..."

Before I could turn the page for the answer, my son called out - "A Hug!" and my heart melted. I grabbed him and gave him the biggest hug. He is such a sweet boy.

Reading this story will become one of our family's Christmas traditions year after year.