18 Comments
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Beka McDowell's avatar

Your writing and your heart are such a gift, my friend. May your Christmas also be filled with more moments of light and joy and peace.

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Maile Silva's avatar

Love and hugs to you, my friend!!!

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Jody Dahmen's avatar

Thank you for this. Beautiful!

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Maile Silva's avatar

Thank you for always reading, Jody. Have a lovely Christmas!

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Lauren Flanagan's avatar

So beautiful, Maile. Thank you ❤️

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Maile Silva's avatar

Thanks for reading, Lauren. I hope you have a fabulous Christmas!

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Courtney Remmenga's avatar

Thank you for sharing your heart. It fed mine this morning.

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Maile Silva's avatar

Aw, so glad it did, Courtney. I hope you have such a merry Christmas!

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Courtney Remmenga's avatar

You as well!

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Jan Yanello's avatar

Thank you for sharing this, Maile. My siblings and I are dearly missing our mother in the midst of the holiday festivities; this year will mark the third Christmas of her absence, and there are moments when the gifts feel like little more than empty wrapping paper next to the looming presence of grief. And then there are other moments, like the one you described here. Moments where the unexpected, intangible gifts truly do light a candle in the interminable dark.

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Maile Silva's avatar

Oh, Jan. I'm with you. But you are right. We do hang on for those "intangible gifts that truly do light a candle in the interminable dark." Peace and comfort to you and yours this season.

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Jody Allen's avatar

Beautiful, Maile. 🎄💜

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Maile Silva's avatar

Hugs to you, dear friend, and many wishes for a beautiful Christmas!

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Christiana Peterson's avatar

Lovely. Thank you. And I’m so sorry for the loss of your father. I remember hearing my dad’s voice unexpectedly after he died too. I’d forgotten the timbre of his voice and his thick Texas accent. Such a poignant memory.

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Maile Silva's avatar

Yes, Christiana, I will remember the moment that video began playing for the rest of my life. So much sadness and joy mingled in a single instant. Hope you have a lovely Christmas.

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Shawn Smucker's avatar

Beautiful.

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Karen Milioto's avatar

This was so beautiful. Thank you. 💛

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Simply Soul Searching Karen :)'s avatar

Oh this is so beautiful, Maile. Thank you for sharing your heart with all of us. Ours are with you, too.

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