A stocking hand-stitched with love

After I completed the cross-stitch part for my oldest daughter's stocking, I took it to a seamstress to have it sewn together, since I don't own - or even know how to use - a sewing machine. Although I could have sewn it together by hand, the result wouldn't have looked as professional.

Later, I hurried to get a stocking completed for my middle daughter and ended up finishing only days before Christmas. Knowing that I didn't have time to take it to a seamstress, I stitched it together myself.

Although the result wasn't bad, I still planned to take it to a seamstress after the holiday, to have her resew the stocking for a more polished look.

However, the stockings were soon put away, and it wasn't until the following December that I remembered my intention. Since it was early in the month, there was still time.

But when I explained to my daughter, who was then 5, what I intended to do, she became upset. She didn't want a stranger to "make" the stocking, she told me. I realized - with surprise - that it was special to her simply because I had sewn it together myself.

My daughter taught me something about these stockings: They were a labor of love, and it didn't matter how good the finished product looked. It meant more to her simply because I had made the whole stocking myself.

Someday, when I finish my youngest daughter's stocking, I will remember what's important.

But if I happen to forget, my middle daughter will always remind me.