Living on a very fixed budget does not leave a lot of room for the extras and un-needed. I even got to the point where I believed maybe we should just get a fake tree so we would not endure that extra expense each year. That lasted for all of five minutes because I could not bring myself to letting go of the traditions we had built with our children over the past 5 years. Memories that should not have to be alerted by money.
So we went with the budget. I did not care if I would have to forgo a gift for myself to get the tree, we were keeping the tradition going. Off to Home Depot we went. We looked around and found a tree for $19.95. Perfect and 10 under budget! When we got to the counter Gerald looked at me and said "Is this the tree you want?" I replied "Yes, it's $19.95, that's the one I want." As he looked at me again, his eyes shifted to the two little boys running at my feet, he then removed the price tag from the tree and handed it to my husband. "Take this to the counter and pay for your tree." then looking at me he said "Now you go and pick out any tree you want and it will be $19.95, Merry Christmas...It's for your boys." ....To many this would mean nothing. Just a man doing a nice thing, I was still going to pay for the tree. What's the big deal?
To me my eyes began to fill with tear and a lump entered my throat as I was blessed by the Lord in a time where we needed a little hope. For us this Christmas Gerald was an Angel who showed us a little kindness.
Once home we put our tree up and this year without suprise there is a very special glow from this tree. It is the most beautiful tree we have ever had.
Do not under estimate this Christmas season what the simple gestures can do for someone who may be walking in very different shoes then you or, who may be walking in the same ones.
