Spirit Of Christmas Past

The couple had grown old and alone.
Their adult children lived far away.
With each Christmas they became less prone
to welcome the season, for no joy felt they.

One year they chose not to celebrate
in any way. Christmas would be just
an ordinary day. They did state
to all, Christmas for them was now bust.

A week before Christmas late at night
the couple awakened to a bright
light in their bedroom, much to their fright.
A voice spoke, “I come to set things right.

“I’m the Spirit of Christmas Past. Pay
heed to what I show you.” Their large-screen
television turned on to display
from the man’s past a delightful scene.

“That’s me at age five on Christmas Day,”
the man said. The couple watched as he
opened gifts; his parents smiled away.
Their happiness at his joy was plain to see.

The tv flickered. Now was shown girls,
teenagers all, gathered to exchange
presents. “Just look at my head of curls!”
the woman said. “We all look so strange.”

As gifts were revealed, the girls exclaimed:
“Just what I needed. How perfect!” “You knew
what I’d like. How nice!” As each proclaimed
pleasure, that gift’s giver smiled anew.

The scene on the tv changed again.
“That’s us in our forties with both our
families at Christmas time. Back then
love of Christmas did so empower.

“We’d all gather to celebrate and
give gifts – cousins, uncles, aunts, siblings,
parents, grandparents, children on hand.
All were joyful, loving -- no quibblings.”

The Spirit of Christmas Past now asked,
“What made Christmas special then? Was it
gifts you received?” Their reply: “We basked
in giving thoughtful items that fit

“the receiver’s need or want. Our joy
lay in a gift well chosen, not what
we received in return. Whether toy,
tool, gadget, necklace, clothes, it had but

“to please its recipient to fill
us with pleasure. But those days didn’t last.
Everyone’s scattered or died, until
now we are all alone, living in the past.”

The Spirit’s voice reverberated
throughout their bedroom. “You each know well
Christmas’s true meaning. On your being related
to receivers of your charity don’t dwell.

“Open your eyes! Look around you, for
worthy recipients do abound –
at homeless shelters, those all ignore
in nursing homes, many can be found

“in the poorer sections of your town.
Open your hearts to all those in need,
and your Christmas spirit will rebound.”
These words they were determined to heed.

That Christmas they sought out the needy
in hospitals, nursing homes, shelters
throughout town. No matter how seedy
their appearance, they gave smiles, laughter.

The couple knew joy once again, not
only at Christmas but throughout all
the year. For the charity they forgot
so long, now had their spirit standing tall.


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