Raised in a family with modest means, when I married, my husband and I were growing like a comet in the real estate market and an auto transmission repair business. Money was abundant and for the first time I was enjoying the luxury of buying what I wanted when I wanted, and my son wore only name brand clothes. The Christmas tree was fully-loaded underneath with gifts, and I gave to the needy nearly as much as I spent on myself. Life was carefree.
Then came the recession of the 80’s, and one of the worst recessions people had seen, interest rates were soaring, the bottom fell out from under many businesses, nonetheless mine as well. Then, in 1987 the bottom fell out of my marriage too.
Fleeing an abusive husband, I sought refuge with some friends I’d made during my Air Force days. It took four months to find full-time employment. People at the church I’d attended with my friends, had donated enough house goods to get me set up with a meager beginning, of which to this day I’m eternally grateful for all they did. I love their teaching that if you have two of something, to donate one, a practice I’ve continued to this day.
By then it was October, when my father passed away in November, suddenly. I’d only been on the job for a month and had to fly home to go to his funeral. People donated from everywhere to help me and my son to fly home to his funeral.
But besides the death of my father, losing practically all I owned, packing an eight year old with no financial support from my soon to be ex-husband, that first Christmas was dismal to say the least.
I’m not sure who cried harder, my son or me on Christmas day. I could only afford twenty-five dollars on him and even in 1987 that didn’t buy much. I elected to buy a lot of dollar things than one big gift so it would look like there was more under the tree. My son was used to a boat load of presents under the tree, and that morning was truly pitiful looking. I told him it was our “Littles Christmas” and that big things come in small packages.
Although years later and life now has become comfortable again, the agony of that time in my life has made my life rich and full regardless of the economical state I find myself in.
My son and I created the “Littles Christmas” tradition, to commemorate coming out of our poverty. We purchase nominal gifts five dollars and under, and beginning from my birthday, December 19, we open a gift per day until Christmas day when we open the grand finale. It’s based on what we have that year not a certain dollar amount, to give thanks to the Lord for having brought us both through those trying financial times. One of those items is a Christmas ornament, as it was in the first “Littles Christmas.”
To this very day, I drink my coffee from a Christmas mug my son bought me in 1987 for probably a dollar, but it means more to me than any expensive gift, for its all he’d had to buy me that year, except some sewing needles and some other dollar items. I would be devastated if I broke it, because not only does it remind me of my son but also of the selfless sacrifice made of a little boy of eight.
If you have never lost anything, you can’t appreciate what being literally at someone else’s mercy is like. So you can’t understand the beauty of regaining your self-esteem one climb up the mountain after another. I encourage you to give, give as much as you can and from your heart. You simply cannot out give God, Who richly gives in return with compounded interest, as it says in Proverbs 19: 17 ” One who is gracious to a poor man lends to the LORD, And He will repay him for his good deed.” New American Standard Bible (©1995)
I made a promise in prayer to the Lord, that if He’d return my prosperity I wouldn’t let the left hand know what the right was doing, and that my giving would be anonymous. I started giving either a Thanksgiving or Christmas dinner to a family in need from that 1988 on, even when I wasn’t sure whether my son or I would have one ourselves or not. Back then that cost about twenty-five dollars. Now, both my second husband and I donate about fifty and as anonymous as possible (above out tithe and otherwise donations).
I’m a living witness that King David’s words are true in Psalm 37:25 “I have been young and now I am old, Yet I have not seen the righteous forsaken or his descendants begging bread.” New American Standard Bible (©1995)
However you celebrate your holiday season, may it be the very best you’ve ever had, regardless of your financial status, and may the reality of Jesus’ birth warm your hearts as we remember why He came, not only for peace on earth, good will toward man, but if we ask Him into our hearts, He made a way for us when He gave His life for us the greatest gift of all, life in heaven with Him forever.
Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukah! Happy Holidays!