Christmas means different things to different people. To the secular world around us, Christmas is a colorful, fun filled party ... especially when you get ‘high' enough to enjoy it ... to the business man it's simply $s. To the true Christian it's a Birthday Celebration, God's Gift day. As mature Christians we see it so differently ... but as kids, well we have an exciting immature view.
I've always enjoyed the season of Christmas, as well as the true meaning of Christmas ... but Easter's my day!) As a kid the Christmas tree with all of it's colorful ornaments meant so much. I even believed in Fat Old Santa ... until I realized there were so many fat Santa's and not one could possibly get down our small stove pipe with any presents. (At least none did.)
As kids, though very poor, we always had a Christmas tree of sorts; being poor our trees were bought late and often visibly handicapped, and shortly after Christmas they would get bald. However we always had a gift for my sister and I ... not many, but at least one gift.
We were poor.
That's why my heart goes out to our kids in Mexico. They want a tree so bad, but this year money is tight to non-existent.
Brandon, ten years old, saved up his money, and went to the "dollar store" yesterday, where he bought a plastic one for $5. This bargain one I'll have to see. (The family is thrilled about their Christmas tree.)
Abraham, in part of his conversation said the dog ate their plastic Christmas tree last year and financially the family isn't doing well, so they won't be getting one this year.
Joshua and his brothers and sisters might be fortunate to make a Christmas dinner of tamales on their outside stove. How they would love a tree. (Some families use bushes, now that's creative.)
I could list family after family where the kids would love to have, and decorate, their own little tree.
But this year food will have to be the priority. We'll be doing good if we can even buy food and tarps for families.
Reality makes a real Christmas tree impossible ... a small Chinese plastic tree ... maybe.
While a tree is nice, it isn't essential; food is.
While gifts are nice, believe it or not the kids would rather have a tree to decorate.
Anyone have an extra Christmas tree? ... even a Charlie Brown Christmas tree?
