ENLARGEPhotograph by Daniel Giles
Because of Tracy Northcutt, right, Cheryl Milligan can smile again.
We’ve all done it: opened that absolutely perfect, one-of-a-kind gift that screams, “I thought of this long before Christmas Eve.” We are wowed and thankful — but humbled, because we know that the person who just made our day soon will be disappointed with our last-minute gift choice.
We think of some crazy scenarios. We could pretend to faint, accidentally throwing ourselves on top of her present. Or we could act surprised when she opens it, saying, “Oh, no! That’s for the Dirty Santa game at my aunt’s house later. I tagged it completely wrong!”
Generally, though, we just let her unwrap it, vowing to do better next year, although, odds are, our embarrassment and resolve will not last nearly that long. After all, the holidays are hectic, and we cannot put that much effort into every single gift.
Or can we?
What about those people who always get it right, year in and year out, giving the presents that inevitably make ours look like fruitcakes? Worse yet, what about the folks who give something priceless, something you cannot unwrap or repay — and it is not even Christmas?
My sister-in-law, Tracy Northcutt, is a dentist in Fairhope. When I married her brother in 2008, she had no idea that she would become so well acquainted with the inside of my mouth a mere year later. What began as a routine dental cleaning turned into several months of drilling, root canals, fillings, extractions and crowns. It marked the end of weaseling out of dental work and the beginning of using a sonic toothbrush and nightly flossing.
From now on, when I hear the song “Angels Among Us,” I will think of Tracy. A sizeable loan would have been necessary to pay for all the work she did. She worked tirelessly and patiently to give me the greatest gift in the world — a beautiful new smile. For a girl called “butter-teeth” in high school because of ugly staining and a woman with veneers way overdue for replacement, Tracy’s efforts meant the world.
And what did she request in return? Prayers for her family.
Tracy’s gift did not come wrapped in a pretty package on Christmas morning. She did not wait until the stores were overflowing to feel the spirit of Christmas. She had, and has, a willing heart all year long.
As the holidays become more commercial, and our pocketbooks more empty, we should remember that gifts of ourselves burn longer than a scented candle and fit better than a plaid flannel shirt. Maybe we cannot fix teeth, but we can hold someone’s hand in the hospital or make memorable photos for older family members who have no idea how to work a digital camera.
Our gifts can reflect the gifts God has given us. And we need not wait until Christmas morning or battle holiday crowds to give them. We can perform random acts of kindness any time we choose, because wing-donning opportunities exist every single day.
Thankfully, there are angels among us all year long.
