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A
Gift Of Love Never Ends By:
Wm. Axley Allen, © 2000 It
was mid afternoon in the fourth grade class when the teacher asked if anyone
objected to drawing names to exchange class Christmas presents. Slowly a ten
year old hand was raised. The teacher asked, “Billy, do you not want to draw
names?” “No ma’am, I can’t.” came my reply. “Why,” she asked.
“We don’t have any money,” I answered. Although
the limit to be spent was only $1.00, it was more than we had. Dad and Mom had
both been in and out of hospitals that year and neither of them were in
condition to hold down a job. My brother had dropped out of school at 16 to
support the family, but it being winter, he hadn’t been able to get in many
hours at his present job as an apprentice carpenter. Times
were looking pretty bleak at our house that Christmas. My teacher said that I
could be excused from drawing names. Several
days later, we were treated to a Christmas party and the gifts were exchanged.
As the gifts were being passed out and ripped open, I felt oddly out of place.
In a room filled with laughter, I wished to be invisible so that I could hide. I
was completely absorbed in my thoughts and didn’t hear my name being called at
first, but when I did, I told the teacher, “I didn’t draw names.” She
smiled and said, “Well this one’s got your name on it so come on up and get
it.” The
colorfully wrapped present had a card attached and written on it was: To Billy -
From: Mrs. Hayes. Inside was a round box of “pick up sticks” that
transformed my entire day. Suddenly I was no longer left out of the festivities.
I was a part of Christmas or at least that part of Christmas that’s seen
through ten year old eyes. My
teacher gave far more to me than a toy that day. She gave a child a toy but she
gave a man an understanding of Christmas love that has lasted for over a quarter
of a century. She also gave a man hope and dreams and an undying faith in the
goodness of people. There
are teachers everywhere who have scraped their pennies together at Christmas in
order to brighten the day of a child whose family was having financial trouble.
There are organizations or church groups in most all communities that collect
old toys and repair them or raise money or gifts for the less fortunate children
in their areas. These
people are the spirit of Christmas. They see beyond the commercial aspects of
this special holiday season. They are the fortunate ones who see a special time
to love. This
Christmas, why not search out that organization in your community. If there’s
not one, start one or look to a neighboring community and make a small
contribution to their efforts. It could be an old toy which they could repair or
a new one or a dollar or two; even an hour of your time. It
doesn’t have to be much. The box of “pick up sticks” probably cost only a
fraction of a dollar but their effect has never diminished. This Christmas can
be special not only to you and I, but to a child of today and possibly an adult
of tomorrow. This holiday season, as the warmth of laughter rings in the December air, let us all look to the child who feels left out. Let’s open our hearts and give a gift of love. Who knows, we might be giving an adult the ability to always remember the true meaning of the Christmas season. You
might like to visit National Organizations on the Web devoted to making a great Christmas
for Kids: If one of those organizations doesn't have an operation near you, you can always call your local department of social services and ask how you can help. They have lists of families in need of food, clothing and Christmas items. Thank you - from everyone at The Mountain Laurel and for everyone you choose to help this Holiday Season. Back
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