A Christmas To Remember
Lisa was thirteen the year her mother sat her down and told her that Christmas would be different this year. Her dad had spent his career working at a local car lot, but when the branch closed from poor sales due to the struggling economy, he lost his job of 25 years and was having a hard time finding a new job in their small town.
Lisa's parents had to choose between making the mortgage payment and buying groceries, or purchasing Christmas presents for their children. They chose to pay the mortgage and put food on the table, but were then faced with telling their family that the Christmas morning they were accustomed to would be very different from years past. Lisa was old enough to understand, but the idea of telling her and the 3 younger children that there would be no gifts to open Christmas morning was difficult for both parents.
|
 |
Mark and Stacy had done a good job of keeping their burden to themselves so as not to worry the kids, but the concerned look on Lisa's face when she thought no one was looking made it apparent she was old enough to understand and was keenly aware of the burden her parents were carrying. Her dad left every morning with resume in hand and returned looking crestfallen. Her mother made meals from items that had been in the pantry for a long time, and they no longer ordered pizza on Friday nights.
When Stacy sat down to talk to Lisa about Christmas, Lisa was not surprised. "Mom, it will be okay," she said firmly. Stacy wasn't so sure, but marveled at the calm demeanor of her daughter. "Mom, I'm serious, it really will be okay. Don't tell the little kids about Christmas just yet," she continued. Stacy asked her daughter why, and was met with the response, "because I have an idea!"
On Monday, Lisa came home from school with a flyer in her backpack that had been stapled to a post beside her bus-stop. It said, "Be an Angel! Sponsor an Angel this year and give a child in your community a Christmas to remember." When Lisa placed the clipping in Stacy's hand, Stacy asked, "Is this for The Salvation Army's Angel Tree program?"
"Yes!" Lisa interrupted.
"Lisa, we can't afford to sponsor an Angel this year, but we can volunteer in another way," Stacy encouraged. "We could help fill holiday boxes at the food pantry, or we can help cook the annual holiday dinner at the shelter." Lisa stared at her mother, excited at the prospect of volunteering again, but surprised that her mom was missing her point. "Mom, I'd like to volunteer again, but I was thinking that maybe The Salvation Army would help us this year too."
Tears welled up in Stacy's eyes as she listened to her daughter. All the years they had volunteered, she never imagined that they would need to be on the receiving end of assistance from The Salvation Army. They had a comfortable life up until ten months ago. Now, after eight months of unemployment, the money they had saved had run out. Mark had taken a seasonal job, but it would end with Christmas. Lisa was right, they did need help.
Tuesday, while the children were in school, she went to their local Salvation Army to sign up for Angel Tree assistance. It was hard to stand in line, a line she'd been on the other side of before. While she waited she met many other families going through the same situation and even ran into the wife of one of Mark's former colleagues who was there for the same reason. It humbled and comforted her. Once the necessary forms had been filled out, she walked next door and signed the family up to serve during the holiday meal at the shelter. It was an emotional day, but she left feeling encouraged and much less alone.
The Salvation Army Angel Tree began in Lynchburg, Virginia, in 1979. It involves the community by directly allowing individuals to become personally involved through sharing with those experiencing difficult financial times in their community. The program provides gifts of new clothing and toys to thousands of children throughout the nation who otherwise might not have anything for Christmas.
|
 |
|
|
