Dear Editor: As a child who had recently made my first confession, one Saturday the priest asked me what Christmas present I would want to give to Jesus. When I answered “pants,”this was met with complete silence from the priest’s side of the confessional!

My thought process was this: Since I was born with a physical deformity and kids made fun of me, I didn’t want kids to ridicule Jesus for his clothes. Out of compassion, I envisioned Jesus wearing the accepted garb for boys in the 1950s.

Isaiah 11:9 says, “A child shall lead them.” In this holy season, perhaps we could take time to listen to a child, not only their words, but their thought process. It might turn out to be a beautiful Christmas present.

BARBARA HERRICK-HANSON
Floral Park