Every Christmas, My Mother Shared a Quiet Act of Kindness. This Year, It Changed How I See Everything.

Most families talk about their holiday traditions with ease. They describe loud gatherings, crowded tables, familiar songs, and photos taken year after year. Our tradition was different. It was quiet. It was simple. And for a long time, I did not fully understand it.

Every Christmas Eve, my mother prepared a full holiday meal in our small apartment. She worked …