When Holiday Joy Was Taken—and Quietly Restored

I remember stepping outside that morning and instantly sensing something was wrong. The holiday decorations my children and I had carefully put up together were destroyed. Lights were ripped down, garlands dragged across the yard, and our inflatable Santa lay torn and deflated. Decorating had been one of the few moments recently when my kids felt carefree—laughing, helping, and feeling proud of what we created. Seeing that joy scattered across the lawn felt unexpectedly personal, as if their happiness had been deliberately undone.