Moments of Joy, Connection, and Lasting Love
There’s something timelessly magical about holidays. No matter how old we grow, they awaken the child within us—the one who still believes in wonder, laughter, and the joy of togetherness. In My Dad (Mr. P): The Poet and He Didn’t Know It, Steve Piranio beautifully reflects on the warmth of family holidays, revealing how those cherished moments became anchors of love and memory that endure long after the celebrations end.
Holidays, at their heart, are never about extravagance or perfection. They’re about gathering—the simple act of coming together to pause, share, and give thanks. Steve recalls how his father and mother turned every holiday into something meaningful, not through lavish gifts or decorations, but through presence. Their love filled every space—around the dinner table, in the laughter of children, in the quiet moments of prayer and reflection that framed each season.
As children, holidays shimmer with magic. The lights, the songs, the anticipation—they fill our hearts with wonder. But as adults, we come to realize that the real magic was never in the gifts or the glitter. It was in the people who made us feel seen, safe, and loved. Steve captures this realization tenderly, showing how the joy his parents created continues to echo through the traditions he now carries forward.
Each holiday also becomes a sacred space for remembrance. For Steve, Christmas, Thanksgiving, and Easter are not just dates on a calendar—they are living connections to the love his parents poured into their family. Every gathering becomes a way of honoring their memory, of saying, “You’re still here with us.” Through this act of remembering, holidays transform into celebrations of both the present and the past.
There’s also a quiet beauty in how holidays bridge generations. Around one table sit grandparents, parents, children, and grandchildren—each representing a piece of the family’s story. The traditions Steve inherited from his parents now live on through his own family, proof that love never fades; it simply changes form, finding new voices in every generation.
Even in seasons marked by loss, holidays hold space for healing. They remind us that joy and grief can coexist—that remembering loved ones is itself a celebration of the life they lived and the love they gave. Steve’s reflections remind readers that even when chairs are empty, hearts remain full, because love doesn’t end—it transforms.
What makes holidays truly special is not the perfection of the day, but the imperfect beauty of togetherness—the laughter, the stories, the gratitude that fills the air. They remind us, year after year, that the heart of every celebration is love.
Because holidays remind us that love is the real tradition worth celebrating.
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