Dime Store Santa...

Dime Store Santa...12-2-25

I know the feeling many children have at Christmas. Some children know that the holidays will not bring a house full of decorations, trips to look at lights, gatherings with friends and family, church candelight services and Children programs, or presents under the tree. I know that some children will watch others and wistfully dream of traditions with family, laughter, and all things "holly and jolly". I know these thoughts because I was one of those children.

The Holiday was never one to celebrate in my home. Even today, it is bittersweet. I listen to friends and other family members talk about traditions, and I have to look past my young self to the life my husband and I built with our children and family. One tradition that I miss the most is reading the Christmas story. This tradition is the essence of why we celebrate. Isaiah 9:6-7, "For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, on the throne of David and over his kingdom, to establish it and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and forevermore. The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this"

I remember as a young person that our names would go on a tree. Someone, probably a teacher, would put our name on the Angel Tree that the town people picked from. The Santa would show up at our house on Christmas Eve. He wore a wornout suit, sometimes with jeans instead of red pants, and the boot covers of plastic. Most of the time, he would not have a beard and was most definitely not jolly. As I type this, I look back and smile. His bag was a black trash bag. He would set it down and pull out a gift for each of us (I had two brothers and one sister). There were nightgowns or shirts for the girls, and a shirt for the boys. We might get a toy, but some years, we did not. When my biological father was working, we might have other presents. I would go to the store and pick these out. It was usually a doll of some sort for my sister. She had mental challenges and always loved her babies. My brothers received various toys. I don't ever remember the grand Christmas meal. I never remembered any Christmas music other than the Carolers who would come by our house. There were minimal decorations. Occasionally, my mother would be with it enough to allow us to go get a real Christmas tree from the woods. We would bring it in, put it in a can, and make decorations from paper, popcorn, and some other decorations we found or were given. We never bought store decorations. If we had money, that was for food.

When my boys were small, my husband and I started our own traditions. One of these was to pick names from a tree at the local store or church. From the time they were little, we took the boys to buy Angel Tree gifts. We talked about the importance of giving to others. They would choose an outfit, shoes, and a couple of toys. They would help wrap what was bought, and we would take the gifts back to the store or church to be given to the child. We have continued this tradition with our grandson. We want him to understand the importance of giving to others, as God gave His own Son for the world.

Yes, my story sounds a little sad. However, I have been so blessed. I have the best gift of all. I have the gift of Salvation. I can look back and see that God worked for my good. He kept me safe. We might not have had Christmas as a lot of children do, but God carried me. Every struggle, trial, and pothole was a lesson that I learned. I can now appreciate every moment with my family. I have an appreciation for the Spirit of Christmas, both in song and word. I read the Christmas story, and in my mind's eye, I see the manger, the young mother, the father trying to provide for his family, the shepherd's, angels, and wise men. I see God's gift staring up from the manger into the face of His mother. I see the light shining brightly from the star positioned over the place where He lay. I see the Hope of the nations. I see this clearly because I understand it isn't about what is given or gotten, it is about what we received. The gift that will always be more important than any gift bought or brought. James 1:17, "Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of lights, with whom there is no variation or shadow due to change."