The Extra Christmas Stocking

Something told me to buy that extra Christmas stocking. I’m so glad I did.

It was a couple of days after Christmas, and I had some gift certificates burning a hole in my pocket. My boys were little (4, 6, and 8), and we desperately needed to up our Holiday decorating with matching Christmas stockings, so this was top priority on my shopping list. I walked into Kohl’s (with that glorious Kohl’s cash in my wallet nearing expiration) and headed straight back to the holiday clearance section.

There were six cream-colored stockings with burgundy, cream, and a kelly-green plaid top. I instantly loved them, but only needed five. We’d lost our third baby through miscarriage weeks before, so this was a very emotional decision.

Something told me to buy that extra stocking…

…and I did.

Every Christmas thereafter, I’d pull out the Christmas decor tote, carefully hang the stockings, and there would be that extra stocking.

Laying there patiently.

I get emotional writing this because of the magnitude and power of that extra stocking, so I’ll just skip to the good part.

Fast forward to three years later, after losing three unborn babies, and I would no longer be the mother of three boys, but the mother of four.

That precious extra stocking that was such a painful reminder of our losses is now hanging on my mantle, bearing all six of the Arnett family names: Papa, Mama, Gammon, Harrison, Levi, and James.

The extra Christmas stocking is now a reminder of hope and healing and bears the power of miracles.

Yep, it’s one of the best decisions I made to buy that extra stocking…

…and I’m so glad I did.