[originaltext] On December 24 afternoon, I was on duty.(l)The only thing mak

On December 24 afternoon, I was on duty.(l)The only thing making me happy was a gift sent to me by my husband—a dozen red roses.
    Then a young, tired-looking woman with an infant in her arms came to me.(2)Nervously, she explained that her husband—a prisoner in a nearby jail—was my next patient. The guards would take him here that afternoon She told me she wasn’t allowed to visit her husband in prison and that he had never seen his son. She begged me to let the boy’s father sit in the waiting room with her as long as possible before I called him for his appointment. Since my schedule wasn’t full, I agreed. A short time later, her husband arrived—with two armed guards as an escort. The woman’s tired face lit up when her husband took a seat beside her. I kept peeking out to watch them laugh, cry, and share their child. After almost an hour, I called the prisoner back to the operation room. While I worked, the guards stood just outside my door. At the end of the appointment, I wished him a Merry Christmas. He smiled and thanked me. He also said he felt sad because he hadn’t been able to get his wife anything for Christmas.(3)On hearing this, I was inspired with a wonderful idea. I’ll never forget the look on both their faces as the prisoner gave his wife the beautiful roses. I’m not sure who experienced the most joy—the husband in giving, the wife in receiving, or myself in having the opportunity to share in this special moment.