The True Believer

Sophie woke up at 5:47 AM (because of course she did) and immediately started her Christmas morning preparations. Not present-opening preparations - no, she had more important work to do.

The True Believer

She marched into the kitchen with the determination of a tiny general and began arranging her offerings. Cookies for Santa, obviously. Carrots for the reindeer, naturally. But then she paused, looked at me with those serious three-year-old eyes, and said, ‘Mama, flying makes you thirsty. Santa needs water too.’ And just like that, she poured a small glass of water with the care of a sommelier.

Marcus and I just stood there watching this little person who believes so completely in magic that she thinks about Santa’s hydration needs. She’s so earnest about it all - checking the plate arrangement twice, making sure the carrots are ‘the good orange ones,’ explaining to us that reindeer probably get hungry on such a long trip.

I used to think Christmas was about the decorations and the gifts and getting everything perfect. But watching Sophie believe so purely in something magical? That’s what Christmas actually is. She’s given us back the wonder we forgot we were missing.