by Janeal Mulaney

Created on: May 30, 2010

Christmas, or Birthday

My best Christmas ever was not because of the gifts we shared. At that point and time, I actually didn’t have any money to buy any gifts at all for my three children. I had just left their father a month earlier per his request, and it had taken all the money I had to rent a home and move us in. Of course my children had been telling me for two months what all they wanted and of course the lists was long and expensive.

One night I sat, in my rocking chair after my children had gone to bed trying to think how I was going to get enough money to buy even one of the Christmas gifts they had asked for, when one of my old favorite Christmas movies came on. ‘The Bishop’s Wife’ for those of you who may not know the movie, it is about an angel who comes to earth to help the Bishop rediscover his love for God, his family, and his parish. At the end of that movie, there is the start of a poem. As my mind watched the movie my heart started a soul search of its own. I realized I had forgotten what Christmas was truly about, it wasn’t about gifts or money, it is about God, love, family, understanding, and giving thanks to the wonderful Lord above for giving us a savior who was born on that day, so we could have the greatest gift of all.

That night I started writing a poem, by the time I went to bed, the poem was done. I saved it to my hard drive and climbed under the covers. The next day I printed my poem out after decorating it with some clip art. I printed enough for my family, my children and the friends that I usually gave presents. I bought seven eight by ten frames, one stocking, four bibles and a package of copy paper. I typed out words such as kindness, love, patience, peace, and compassion. I put Christmas clip art pictures around them on the paper, and then cut them out in different styles. I took some old firewood and cut it into thin wooden pieces some of them I painted in different colors, others I used old stain on, and then I glued on the pieces of paper. After I put on polyurethane I nailed a hanger on the back. I gave one to each of my children, my parents, and sister. For me this was the greatest Christmas ever. My children did get other presents, from the rest of my family, their father, and I had a friend who worked with the fire department and they delivered the toys for tots in our area, so he brought over a bike for each one of my children, which had been on the top of their lists. God does provide, all we have to do is pray and believe in him.  

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