Lonny, Jingle Bear, and the Season of Magic

My friend, Deb shared this story of holiday magic with me and I was so touched as I often am by the amazing stories of love and loss and hope that I have the honor to hear from people.  I asked Deb to share her wonderful story in this blog.  In her own words;

Our Golden Retreiver, Lonny, left us on October 19, 2006.  Like all parents suffering a loss, we were at turns devasted and hopeful - devastated that we had to continue without Lonny, and hopeful that he would still make his presence known somehow and send us a message.  Thanks to Enid and the Pet Loss Support groups at DoveLewis, we got through that first painful holiday season and began our healing journey.  During those support groups, I remember Enid saying that Lonny still had gifts to bring us.  And I also knew, from human losses I had experienced, that no matter how hard I wished, spiritual messages come in their own time, and in their own way. 

In the spring of 2007, Enid started monthly Memorial Art groups which was a welcome addition to the healing process.  And in December of 2007, our art project was holiday ornaments.  I created several heart shaped ornaments with Lonny’s picture - my “Lonny ornaments”.  My husband and I had put our Christmas tree up the week before and had placed several of Lonny’s favorite stuffed toys beneath the tree, including Jingle Bear.  In his heyday, Jingle Bear played a tinny rendition of Jingle Bells when you pushed the button on his chest.  But over time, the button wore out, or the battery wore down, and Jingle Bear had become a lovely stuffed toy that Lonny played with.  Jingle Bear hadn’t played Jingle Bells for years.

On that Sunday evening, after I returned from Memorial Art, my husband and I sat in the living room chatting, while I finished tying the ribbons on my “Lonny ornaments”.  When I had finished, we shared a memory or two and then I got up to hang the first “Lonny ornament”.  As I placed it on the branch, Jingle Bear burst into spontaneous music!  Charlie and I were stunned, then burst into excited chatter, tears, and finally a bit of skepticism.  Could it have been…  We grabbed Jingle Bear and squeezed, shook, and wiggled, but nothing…  It was then that we fully understood - it was our gift.  Our little boy had just popped in to wish us a Merry Christmas.  And on Christmas morning, Jingle Bear sang for the second time.

To this day, Jingle Bear sits quietly in our bedroom, and doesn’t make a peep - until the holiday season.  Or should I say, the season of Magic!