Month: December 2014
The Christmas Dime, By ShayLynn Nordstrom
This dear story was written by my cousins granddaughter. I truly enjoyed this and wanted to share it with everyone. With her permission, I present to you:
The Christmas Dime
by ShayLynn Nordstrom
It’s not about how much you have; it’s about using what you have. ~Victoria Osteen
Bobby was getting cold sitting out in his back yard in the snow. Bobby didn’t wear boots; he didn’t like them, he didn’t own any anyways. The thin sneakers he wore had a few holes in them and they did a poor job of keeping out the cold. Bobby had been in his back yard for about an hour and try as he might he couldn’t come up with an idea for his mother’s Christmas gift. He shook his head as he thought “this is useless, even if I do come up with an idea, I don’t have any money to spend.”
Ever since his father had passed away three years ago, the family of five had struggled. It wasn’t because his mother didn’t care or try, because she did but there just never seemed to be enough. She worked nights at the general store down town but the small wage she was earning could only be stretched so far.
What the family lacked in money and other material things they more than made up for in love and family unity. Bobby had two older and one younger sister, who ran the house in their mother’s absence all three of his sisters had already made amazing looking gifts for their mother. Somehow it just wasn’t fair. Here it was Christmas Eve and he had nothing. Bobby’s heart sank what was he to do?
Wiping a tear from his eye, Bobby kicked the snow and started to walk down to the street where the shops and stores were. It wasn’t easy being six without a father especially when he need a man to talk to, Bobby was practically raised by all girls sometimes he wished for a male role model in his life just to talk to and maybe pass the baseball back and forth with. Bobby walked from shop to shop looking into each uniquely decorated window, everything seemed so beautiful but yet so out of reach.
It was starting to get dark, Bobby turned to walk home when suddenly his eyes caught the glimmer of the setting sun’s rays reflecting off of something along the curb. He reached down and discovered a shiny dime. Never before has someone felt as wealthy as Bobby felt at that moment.
As he held his new-found treasure, a warmth spread throughout his entire body and he walked into the first store he saw. His enthusiasm soon turned cold when the salesperson told him that he couldn’t buy anything with only one small dime.
He then saw a flower shop and went inside to wait in line. When the shop owner asked if he could help him, Bobby presented his dime and asked if he could buy just one flower for his mother’s Christmas gift? The store owner looked at Bobby and his ten cent offering.
Then he put his hand on Bobby’s shoulder and said to him, “you just wait here and I’ll see what I can do for you.” As Bobby waited he stared at all the gorgeous flowers and even though he was a boy he could see why his mother and sisters liked them so much.
The sound of the last customer leaving jolted Bobby back into reality. All alone in the shop bobby began to feel lonely and apprehensive. Finally the owner came out and moved to the counter.
There, before Bobby’s eyes, lay twelve long stem, red roses, with leaves of green and tiny white flowers all tied together with a big silver bow. Bobby’s heart was filled with trepidation when the owner picked them up and put them in a long white box.
“That’ll be ten cents young man”. The shop owner said reaching out his hand for the dime. Slowly Bobby moved his hand to give the man his dime. Could this be true? No one else would give him anything for his dime!
Sensing the boy’s reluctance, the shop owner added,” I just happened to have some roses on sale for ten cents a dozen. Would you like them? This time Bobby didn’t hesitate, and when the man placed the long box into his hands he knew it was true. Walking out the door that the owner was holding for Bobby, he heard the shop keeper say “Merry Christmas son.”
As he returned inside, the shop keeper’s wife walked out. “Who were you talking to back there and where are the roses you were fixing? Staring out the window, and blinking the tears from his own eyes, he replied. “A strange thing happen to me this morning. While I was setting up things to open the shop. I thought I heard a voice telling me to set aside a dozen of my best roses for a special gift. I wasn’t sure if I had just completely lost my mind or what but I set them aside anyway.
Then just a few minutes ago, a little boy came into the shop and wanted to buy a flower for his mother with one small dime.
When I looked at him I saw myself, many years ago. I too, was a poor boy with nothing to buy my mother a Christmas gift. A bearded man, whom I never knew, stopped me on the street and told me he wanted to give me ten dollars. When I saw that little boy tonight, I knew who that voice was, and I put together a dozen of my very best roses.” The shop owner and his wife hugged each other tightly and as they stepped into the bitter bold air, they somehow didn’t feel cold at all.
When you give what you have in your hand, it doesn’t matter how small you think it is, god can bless it and multiply it. A small act of kindness can be stretched farther then you think.
Goodness the only investment that doesn’t fail.
Have a Very Merry CHRISTmas!
What can you do to make someone’s life just a little bit better?
By: ShayLynn Nordstrom
Ancestral Lands
Ancestral Lands from across the sea
Memories of ancestors are calling to me
Stories to write of loved ones since gone
Building the bridges with those we belong
Hardships and sorrows, long journeys and such
These stories of loved ones can teach us so much
Where to begin, with paper in hand
The stories of hardships in far away lands
The choices to chase, a better life for us all
Behind them their homes, they sacrificed all
Loved ones buried on the journey here
If we but remember, they will always be near
Sacrifice given to us from before
Our duty to remember the burdens they bore
these burdens now teach us, what we need to know
Ancestors now teach us with the love that they showed
Memories, Traditions and Family
I sit here pondering what my children will remember of the holidays and the traditions that we are trying to create with them. I struggle knowing that I will never be able to give them what I experienced as a child. I wonder if the their memories will be good or bad, bouncing between homes during the holidays. Different traditions between homes, different focus on the reason for the season. One home focused on receiving, while our home focused on the giving and the sacredness of the holidays.
My wife and I try to create strong traditions which strengthen our family and faith. We focus on the time together, on service to others and the love that we share. We try to share with them the wonder and joy that can only be found in family, forgiveness, service and love. We focus on the beauty of our world and connecting with nature. We try hard to stay away from any focus on material possessions, instead choosing to focus on the importance of family.
As I reflect upon my own childhood memories, especially those this time of year, I can recall few of the gifts I received, yet I remember well the family time, love and laughter that accompanied my childhood and the memories of the holidays. I looked forward to the time with my cousins, we would laugh and play, my uncles would tease us and my aunts would kiss us. This was time for family and togetherness.
I pray that my children, as they grow will be able to find through all the challenges these little hearts face the love of family and the memories of togetherness that I was deeply blessed with.
jisbell22 