No one can predict the future. Realistically, things pop up in our lives, inconveniently. Looking back on obstacles that have popped up in my life, I realize that those obstacles were put into my life for a reason.

I remembered it as if it were yesterday. Almost a week before Christmas on a cold clammy day, I walked home from school singing Christmas jingles to myself as i watched flurries of snowflakes multiply by the minute. When I reached my driveway, I ran to the door and leaped into the house, relieved to be home. I dropped my bags to the floor and as usual, headed for the kitchen to find any good food in sight. As I munch on some fruit, I couldn’t help but notice from the corner of my eye large chunks of white wood from the door had been broken off and shattered on the floor. I thought to myself “what the heck happened?”

I slowly walked into the living room to see millions of pine needles and presents scattered all across the floor. I crept into my parents bedroom and saw that it was completely trashed, looking like a tornado had sworn through the room leaving their mattresses posted on a wall and clothes everywhere. I then tip toed two steps into my room to to see that my jewelry was all gone, leaving only one gold necklace with a cross covered with pink studs left lying on my bed. As I felt the fear come over me, I hurried and grabbed my cell phone and nestled up to a corner to call my dad.

“Dad…” As he picked up the words barely fell out my mouth. “I think…” Within seconds I began to panic. “I think someone broke into the house.”

His voice was shaken and somewhat soft, “What?! Are you ok? You need to get out of the house and call the cops. I’m coming home now! ” He said nervously.

I look nervously all around the room just in case someone was still in the house as the phone was ringing. A lady answered immediately, “911 what’s your emergency?”

I felt my stomach turn as I took a huge gulp. “Hi, um someone has broken into my house.” And that was it.

I gave the lady our address and within fifteen minutes, an officer was knocking on the door. She began asking me questions and then inspected the house and told me not to touch anything so I sat there awkwardly, wiping my nose and the tears that were falling, one after another. I wondered, how could someone do this, especially right before Christmas? All the possessions my parents worked hard for and earned and the gifts we had bought for others were gone. Stolen. And I began to feel remorseful for what someone else had done. I was trying my hardest to keep myself together, looking up, thinking about positive things, forcing the tears to not rush down my cheeks, just so the officer wouldn’t see me cry. She put her hand on my back with sympathy.
“Atleast you weren’t home when this had happened.” She said softly.

Once my parents had come home, they rushed into the house and gave me the most sympathetic hug. “I’m just glad you’re okay.” My dad said.

A few hours later the cops had left, my parents and I began to clean the house and look for what had been taken. I looked at them both and sighed, “This is going to be the worst Christmas ever. I just feel so bad for you guys. You guys bought all of those presents...”

And the look on my moms face immediately, showed she was dreadful. When the tears began to overflow her eyes, I had regretted instantly what I had said. That night, my parents received multiple phone calls from family asking if we were ok. As I went to bed, I couldn’t fall asleep. The thought of someone just breaking down a door and entering our house was haunting me. I wondered, “was anything going to get better from here? Or was everything just going to get worse?”

With that, a million thoughts raced through my mind till I slowly dozed off into sleep. Within the next few days before Christmas, things definitely got better for us. My aunt had arranged a party with our friends and family. As we walked into my aunts house, we saw more than half our family and friends joined together in one room. Immediately, my mom had a flood of tears well up in her eyes and my dad had a smile so big, his cheeks practically reached his ears, while I had a the largest lump in my throat. With so much joy my aunt had hugged me tight, “You’re parents work so hard, we aren’t going to let a selfish person ruin this important holiday for you guys. We want you to have the best Christmas ever!” She said with so much happiness and enthusiasm.

Our family gave us cards that were written in with so much love. Some had given us more money and presents than we ever needed and we were more than humble. I sat back and gazed at everyones radiant happiness and I couldn’t help but smile. The room was fulfilled with love and that is when I realized what family is all about. They’ll always love and accept you and especially be there for you, even at your lowest, no matter what and for that, I’d like to thank my family for influencing me to be the loving person I am today. I believe things happen for a reason and that these obstacles that are put into our lives, teach us something and are a reminder to us for when we need it most. For me, that reminder was Christmas isn't about receiving, it’s about giving and loving. Looking back on that, it really had been the best Christmas ever. A day that spiraled into complete chaos, showed me a life lesson on family and created a long-living memory and that gives me total bliss.