Christmas With Love Hosted and Written by (unless otherwise specified) Jaci Rae.
Copyright, Jaci Rae and North Shore Records, Inc.

Beauty and Love
Author Unknown

"Can I see my baby?" the happy new mother asked. When
the bundle was nestled in her arms and she moved the fold
of cloth to look upon his tiny face, she gasped. The doctor
turned quickly and looked out the tall hospital window.
The baby had been born without ears. Time proved that the
baby's hearing was perfect. It was only his appearance that
was marred.

When he rushed home from school one day and flung
himself into his mother's arms, she sighed, knowing that his
life was to be a succession of heartbreaks. He blurted out
the tragedy. "A boy, a big boy...called me a freak."

He grew up, handsome for his misfortune. A favorite with his
fellow students, he might have been class president, but for
that. He developed a gift, a talent for literature and music.
"You might mingle with other young people," his mother
reproved him, but felt a tenderness in her heart.

The boy's father had a session with the family physician.
Could nothing be done? "I believe I could graft on a pair of
outer ears, if they could be procured" the doctor decided.
Whereupon the search began for a person who would make
such a sacrifice for a young man.

Two years went by. Then, "You are going to the hospital,
son. Mother and I have someone who will donate the ears
you need. But it's a secret" said the father.

The operation was a brilliant success, and a new person
emerged. His talents blossomed into genius, and school
and college became a series of triumphs. Later he married
and entered the diplomatic service.

"But I must know!" he urged his father. "Who gave so much
for me? I could never do enough for him."
"I do not believe you could," said the father, "but the
agreement was that you are not to know...not yet."

The years kept their profound secret, but the day did come
...one of the darkest days that ever pass through a son. He
stood with his father over his mother's casket. Slowly,
tenderly, the father stretched forth a hand and raised the
thick, reddish-brown hair to reveal... that the mother had no
outer ears.

"Mother said she was glad she never let her hair be cut," he
whispered gently, "and nobody ever thought mother less
beautiful, did they?"

Real beauty lies not in the physical appearance, but in the
heart. Real treasure lies not in what can be seen, but what
cannot be seen. Real love lies not in what is done and
known, but in what is done but not known.

Jaci Rae has been named "The Christmas Expert!" She is also the author of Collista's Search for the True Meaning of Christmas! Congratulations Jaci Rae!