A Christmas Candle for Mrs. O’Brien: A Teacher’s Gift She’ll Never Forget

It was the last day of term, and Mrs. O’Brien was ready for a well-deserved break. Her class of lively second-graders had kept her on her toes all year, and the prospect of two weeks with no lesson plans, no homework to grade, and no endless questions like “Do we have to do this?” was keeping her spirits high. But before the final bell rang, there was one last tradition to uphold—the annual giving of Christmas gifts.

Mrs. O’Brien had received everything over the years. Mugs emblazoned with phrases like “Best Teacher Ever,” a slightly suspicious-looking batch of homemade cookies (that she discreetly passed on to her husband), and even a novelty pen that was taller than most of her students. She had seen it all. Or so she thought.

Enter little Johnny. A mischievous seven-year-old with a heart of gold but a tendency to forget homework… and occasionally lunch. Johnny approached Mrs. O’Brien with a gift-wrapped box and the biggest grin on his face.

“Merry Christmas, Mrs. O’Brien! This is for you!” he declared proudly.

Mrs. O’Brien smiled warmly and took the box. It felt light, but she could sense the excitement behind Johnny’s eyes, so she carefully unwrapped it in front of him. Inside was a beautifully personalised candle. The label had a festive Christmas wreath encircling a heartfelt message. Written inside the wreath in neat script was:

"Thank you for making every day bright. Merry Christmas, Mrs. O’Brien. From Johnny."

Mrs. O’Brien’s heart melted. It was, without a doubt, one of the most thoughtful gifts she had ever received. She could imagine lighting it at home, a peaceful reminder of her role in shaping young minds.

But Johnny wasn’t done yet.

“Look closer!” he urged. “I picked the message myself!”

Mrs. O’Brien leaned in, expecting another sweet line. Instead, in bold letters, the personalised label revealed Johnny’s full flair for creativity:

"You light up our classroom like no one else can. Except maybe the fire drill."

Mrs. O’Brien couldn’t help but laugh. Johnny’s humor had, once again, brightened her day in the most unexpected way. She thanked him and tucked the candle safely in her bag, knowing this was a gift she would cherish—not just for the lovely scent, but for the reminder that teaching was as much about laughter as it was about lessons.

Later that evening, as Mrs. O’Brien lit the candle at home, she smiled and thought of Johnny’s words. The flame flickered warmly, filling the room with a comforting glow. She took a deep breath, enjoying the peaceful scent — was that a hint of cinnamon?

And then she noticed the second line on the candle’s label, nestled inside the wreath:

"P.S. Sorry about the glitter explosion in the art room."

Mrs. O’Brien laughed aloud, her holiday season officially off to a brilliant start.