In the early 1980’s, when my kids were young teenagers, we had to close our business, leaving us in considerable debt. Collection agency calls were daily occurrences. One month, I paid my house payment with the Visa card. We gave up a 1972 Cadillac convertible to settle a business obligation. The IRS emptied our meager bank account (without notice) to pay the overdue California sales taxes, resulting in bounced checks all over town.
That Christmas, we were financially challenged (as they might say now). We said we were "broke." No way was there any extra money for a Christmas tree.
My husband brought home a beautiful manzanita branch, mounted it on a base and decorated it with red Christmas balls. Not the traditional Christmas tree, to be sure, but pretty. We set our few presents underneath.
Hubby and I were prepared to deal with the substitute tree, trusting that things would be better next year. The kids hated it, calling it the Christmas Stick. They were embarrassed when their friends came to visit.
We muddled through that financial disaster, took a second mortgage on the house at 14% interest (true) and paid off all the debts. The next Christmas we were back on our feet, the kids had toys and we had a real Christmas tree.
I was thinking the other day that sometime in our life, we should all have a Year of the Christmas Stick. A year when we can’t afford to buy the children expensive gifts that break before New Year’s Day. A season where we do without the luxuries we’re used to, Christmas trees, lights in the front yard, presents and expensive holiday outings. A year when we walk in the footsteps of folks out there, by virtue of unemployment, natural disaster or illness, who are without a tree, and without gifts. For that matter, maybe some are without a home with a chimney for Santa to slid down.
It’s been over fifty years since the Year of the Christmas Stick. This Christmas Day, as our family stumbled from the table loaded down with ham and cookies and all the fixings and we gazed at our ten- foot- tall Christmas tree with gifts piled high, thought about the Year of The Christmas Stick. And we remembered its message.
We are grateful for the important things. We are blessed with our families, our health, our faith, all gifts from God. We remember to share our bounty with those who are in need. We remember that there are some folks who might think they were blessed to have a Christmas Stick with a few presents underneath, even if it was just sweaters and pajamas and sox, like my kids got that one year so long ago.
I remember how hard things were when we closed the business and struggled to make ends meet, wondering how we could make good on our business debts, keep our home and feed our kids. We struggled and persevered and made do with a manzanita branch for a Christmas tree. Looking back, I remember and can't help but thank God for the opportunity to experience the Year of the Christmas Stick. We all learned lessons that I hope we will never forget.
You reminded me that disasters make the biggest impacts in our lives and bless us in ways that wouldn't be possible any other way. That which looks horrible becomes amazing if we trust in our Lord God.
It is a blessing learn to appreciate the goodness that we have and learn compassion for those many who have less. Happy to say this year was another blessed Christmas, for which we thank God every day.
I shutter to think of the "tight" Christmases I spent as a single Mom. After the tender age of 10 my son experienced life with one rather two parents in the household due to divorce. We had lean Christmases but we never experienced having the go through Christmas without presents underneath the tree. The size of the tree varied and certainly the presents were not extravagant but we were happy, healthy and always with a family that helped to plug all of the financial holes, if there any. They ensured that my son and I were never without all of what we needed and some of what we wanted. As a Mom, however, I still feel the sting of not giving my son all that he wanted but he never complained.
Nice story, Elaine. Humbling.
Indeed, humbling and yet once it's over, to learn the hard way how blessed we are and how grateful we should be every day of the year.
It's s true Elaine. We all have had those "tight" Christmases. We have always had a tree cause we live in Christmas Tree heaven where we can just go out and chop a tree down. However, presents were a different matter. We gave each other gifts of *services* that we wrote out on paper. Like good for a vacuuming or a snow shovel. This was fun and so unique to us at the time. We only had to do that for one Christmas but I never forgot the laughs and snickers over the services rendered.
Jean
I think that's a delightful idea, even now. So many folks need 'services,' like elderly or single moms or even single guys who could use a home cooked meal or dessert. Thanks for visiting and sharing your memoris.'
I do not know if it's just me or if everybody else encountering problems with
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