Friday, December 23, 2011

Size Does Not Matter

It's not the size of the tree or the number of gifts under it that really matters ....


TRUE STORY:

I am the 5th of 9 children. Needless to say, my mother was a real "stay-at-home" mom! My father always worked but was an alcoholic, so many times money was "nil or non". The local "Goodfellows" supplied what Christmas gifts that we received most years. They "magically" appeared on Christmas Eve--yes, Virginia...there is a Santa Claus.  The only Christmas that I have any memory of  as a child growing up was about the time we had a real Charlie Brown Christmas tree.

My younger sister and I were walking back home from visiting a friend when we passed a house that had REAL Christmas tree limbs piled up by the curbside. I assume they had to be trimmed off due to their size because they were fairly large branches. I picked up the biggest one from the bunch and my sister and I carried it home where we put it in a Mason fruit jar and made paper chains and ornaments for decorations. 

I don't remember the gifts that were found under that wonderful little tree that Christmas morning or what we had to eat for Christmas dinner that day or anything else about Christmas that year. I just remember the JOY of finding that tree branch and the beautiful tree that me and my sister decorated that year.

You see, for me Christmas isn't about the presents OR about the tree. It's about the JOY of knowing that God has given ME/US the greatest gift of all time...
 


  our Saviour

God Bless and Joyeux Noel from Campagne Maison

 



5 comments:

S said...

What a story. I never knew that.
Merry Christmas,
Love you, your baby sister.

Lorrie said...

Sweet story.

Joyeux Noel et Bonne Année, Jacque!

Wendy @HerBallistic Garden said...

Remember...your history makes you who you are! What an appreciation for everything you have now, you probably have! Merry Christmas to you and yours! xo

Ana said...

Oh Jacque,
Thank you for sharing such a personal story...It has touched me beyond words. Wishing you and your family a very merry and blessed Christmas. Sending you a great big hug my sweet friend.

Much love,
♥Ana

The Polka Dot Closet said...

What a great story! Wow, how blessed you are to be from a big family, your story should be sad, but I found it inspiring! Thank you for stopping by, Happy New Year

Carol