Christmas 1958 was a very difficult one for my family. My father, who worked as a house painter, had not had work since September and my mother had to go out to work cleaning people’s homes. She would work five days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for $3 a day. It was very stressful and very tiring for her. I was in grade eight at the Presentation Convent on Barnes Road that year. For Christmas I desperately wanted a school ring because the next year I would be attending Holy Heart of Mary Regional High School. The school rings were very expensive but I asked my mother for one anyway. I desperately wanted one for Christmas. At $3 a day that my mother earned, it would take her a long time to save up the money for the ring. Even though I had asked her for the ring, I felt guilty for putting that pressure on her. Shortly before Christmas, as we were having supper one evening, Mom said she had to discuss something with us. She told us that as well as working from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. daily she would have to be out of the house after supper from 7:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m. for a month. She had gotten another job cleaning offices and Dad would have to go with her to help. There were four of us children in the family. Our older sister, who was 18 at the time, would take care of things for us. Christmas morning finally came and I got up early. I was in the school choir and we were singing at the 9:00 a.m. Mass at the Basilica of St. John the Baptist on Military Road. My father and I had breakfast together and as I was putting on my heavy coat Dad handed me a little gift. My heart jumped. I was hoping it was my ring, but was afraid to open it just in case it was something else. I held it for a moment and Dad said, “Well, aren’t you going to open it?” He had a big smile on his face. I gently opened the package and there in a little yellow box was my Presentation School Ring. My special treasure. Tears started rolling down my face as I took the ring from its box and put it on my finger. I gave my dad a big hug. I realized as I walked to church in the snow, that as much as I loved the ring and felt special wearing it, the true Christmas gift that year was the selfless act of love shown by my mother and father.   Submitted By: NULL