The Cat Who Slept Under the Tree
By Bill Conley
America’s Favorite Children’s Storyteller
Moral of the Story:
Love is the greatest gift under any
tree, for it cannot be wrapped or tied with a bow. When we share kindness, we
give something that never fades. The joy of family is brighter than any
twinkling light. True happiness is found in being together, not in what we
receive. Christmas is not about what’s under the tree, but who’s gathered
around it. When we forgive, share, and love, we make every heart a home. The
warmth of love fills the coldest winter nights with peace.
And the greatest gift we can ever give is our heart.
On a quiet Christmas Eve, deep in a
cozy little cottage at the edge of the forest, lived a fluffy gray cat named Whiskers.
Whiskers loved two things more than anything else in the world—napping and
exploring.
The cottage smelled like cinnamon,
pine needles, and freshly baked cookies. The twinkling Christmas tree stood
tall in the corner, decorated with shiny ornaments, glittering tinsel, and a
bright golden star on top.
Whiskers sat beside the glowing
fireplace, his tail flicking as he gazed at the sparkling tree. “What a lovely
tree,” he purred softly. “I wonder what’s hiding under it.”
Beneath the branches, boxes wrapped
in red, green, and gold paper called to him. Ribbons curled like playful tails,
and shiny bows shimmered in the light. Whiskers’ curious whiskers twitched.
He crept closer.
He sniffed one present, pawed at
another, then crawled halfway beneath the tree to get a better look. Everything
was so beautiful, so bright, so exciting, that he forgot to be careful.
Then, whoosh!, his tail
brushed against the lowest branch.
Crash!
The ornaments jingled and bounced. A
shiny red ball rolled across the floor. One gift toppled over, and then
another, and another, until all the presents were scattered across the living
room floor!
“Oh no!” gasped Whiskers, his eyes
wide as snowflakes. “What have I done?”
The commotion woke up Lila,
the little girl of the house. She ran down the stairs in her red Christmas
pajamas, her eyes wide in surprise.
“Whiskers!” she cried. “You knocked
over the presents!”
Whiskers lowered his head, his ears
drooping. “Meow,” he whispered softly, ashamed.
Lila sighed, looking at the
scattered wrapping paper and ribbon everywhere. But then she knelt down beside
Whiskers. “It’s okay,” she said with a gentle smile. “They’re just presents. We
can fix it.”
She scooped him up and gave him a
cuddle. “You’re my present too, you silly cat.”
Whiskers blinked in surprise. “Me?”
Lila laughed and kissed the top of
his head. “You make me happy every single day.”
She sat beside the tree, setting
Whiskers in her lap. Together, they looked at the twinkling lights reflecting
off the ornaments. “You know,” Lila said, “Christmas isn’t really about the
gifts.”
Whiskers tilted his head. “It’s
not?”
“No,” she whispered. “It’s about
love, and family, and being together.”
At that moment, her mom and dad came
downstairs, smiling sleepily. “Is everything all right?” asked her mom.
“Yes,” said Lila, “Whiskers just
wanted to help unwrap early.”
Her dad chuckled and helped gather
the toppled gifts. “That cat of ours sure knows how to make Christmas
memorable.”
Soon, they had everything back in
order. The family sat together on the floor, sipping cocoa and sharing cookies
while Whiskers purred softly in Lila’s lap.
Outside, snow began to fall gently,
blanketing the world in peace. The fire crackled, and the star atop the tree
shimmered like heaven’s own light.
Whiskers stretched, yawned, and
nestled beneath the lowest branch of the tree—right beside Lila. The glowing
lights reflected softly in his eyes. He could feel the warmth of the fire, the
soft hum of Christmas music, and the heartbeat of his favorite person.
He sighed happily. “I think,” he
purred, “I understand now.”
That night, Whiskers dreamed of
snowflakes, laughter, and love, of a home filled not with fancy things, but
with warmth that could never be wrapped or broken.
When Christmas morning came, Lila
found him still sleeping under the tree. The ribbons were neatly tied, the
gifts perfectly placed, but the best sight of all was her furry friend curled
up in peace.
She whispered, “Merry Christmas,
Whiskers.”
His tail flicked, and for a moment,
Lila thought she heard him purr, “Merry Christmas, Lila. Thank you for loving
me.”
And from that year on, every
Christmas morning, Whiskers had his special place under the tree, a reminder
that love truly is the greatest gift of all.
Poem:
Love Is the Gift
Under the tree where the lights
softly glow,
Dreams come alive in the twinkle below.
Presents may sparkle and ribbons may gleam,
But love is the treasure that fills every dream.
Through laughter and hugs, through
joy and delight,
The warmth in our hearts makes Christmas shine bright.
So cherish each moment, both simple and true,
For love is the gift that keeps blessing you.
Questions
for Reflection
- Why did Whiskers knock over the presents, and how did
Lila react?
- What did Whiskers learn about the true meaning of
Christmas?
- What do you think your greatest gift is this year?
No comments:
Post a Comment