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Where are our minds this time of year? - shopping, malls, money, worries,
family get togethers, and disasters, wrapping presents, decorating the house,
the tree, and the kids.
Where are our minds really? Are we thinking about the gift we all share in the time we are about to experience. Where is Christmas? Where is the spirit? Was it a fairy tale created for the young? Is it media hype, a commercial or retail celebration?
When I was a little girl I was fortunate to come from a family of poverty, one that truly could afford the basics only. Christmas was not a time of greed in any way. We had a tree, and we had a feast of wonderful foods, music and laughter. We had barley toy candy, ribbon candy and hand made specialties. My favorite memory was when my grandmother delivered presents and stockings for everyone in the family. She was not remembered as a kind woman so this was a very special event.
We each got an orange in the stocking; I was thrilled, my very favorite fruit of all. I only remember eating one other orange in my whole childhood.
I did not eat it right away, I saved it, I was so happy to have the orange. It made me feel loved. I am sure my grandmother knew we had little to eat at times, and definitely never had oranges; I thought at that time that she was an angel for bringing me my favorite fruit.
This to me was a real gift. It came with love and a feeling. I learned a valuable lesson that day, I felt what Christmas means. It did not come wrapped in fancy paper, or designer colors, it was a simple real piece of fruit and I loved it. Simple is the key, the most wonderful gifts we can give are the ones that are the most simple.
Where are our minds really? Are we thinking about the gift we all share in the time we are about to experience. Where is Christmas? Where is the spirit? Was it a fairy tale created for the young? Is it media hype, a commercial or retail celebration?
When I was a little girl I was fortunate to come from a family of poverty, one that truly could afford the basics only. Christmas was not a time of greed in any way. We had a tree, and we had a feast of wonderful foods, music and laughter. We had barley toy candy, ribbon candy and hand made specialties. My favorite memory was when my grandmother delivered presents and stockings for everyone in the family. She was not remembered as a kind woman so this was a very special event.
We each got an orange in the stocking; I was thrilled, my very favorite fruit of all. I only remember eating one other orange in my whole childhood.
I did not eat it right away, I saved it, I was so happy to have the orange. It made me feel loved. I am sure my grandmother knew we had little to eat at times, and definitely never had oranges; I thought at that time that she was an angel for bringing me my favorite fruit.
This to me was a real gift. It came with love and a feeling. I learned a valuable lesson that day, I felt what Christmas means. It did not come wrapped in fancy paper, or designer colors, it was a simple real piece of fruit and I loved it. Simple is the key, the most wonderful gifts we can give are the ones that are the most simple.