Everyone has a favorite Christmas story or perhaps two. One I recall was from my earliest childhood memories. At the time I was three years old. All I wanted for Christmas was a Betsy Westy Doll. The doll was unique at the time as when you put a bottle in her mouth, the liquid would go right through her body and out as if she peed her pants. My doll had brown hair and I think a red color dress. I was so excited that Santa brought me such a doll. At the time, I was living with my maternal grandparents. On Christmas morning, I saw Betsy under the tree with other toys Santa brought, but all I could think about was this special doll. I hurried to feed her and low and behold she had wet her underpants. Santa brought extra pairs for Betsy so I had no fear of her going without panties. That morning, I was headed to church with my aunt and uncle. My Sunday school class was to sing “Away in a Manger” at the church service. Like all the other girls, I had brought my new doll to church with me. It was time for our class to head up to sing, I handed my uncle Betsy and the bottle informing him it was time for her to be fed. Being such the great guy he was, my uncle put the bottle of liquid into Betsy’s mouth; true to form, she peed out the liquid all over the new blue suit he wore. My uncle let out a soft chuckle and others sitting around him seeing the scene, also chuckled.
My class sang their song; I returned to my seat in the pew only to see the wet spot on my uncle’s suit coat. All he said to me was “Betsy is full but she needs an underpants change when we get back home.”
When you think about fond memories of the holidays, it is not the gifts that are under the tree, what is left in your stocking or how much food you consume or egg nog you drink, it is an unexpected act of goodwill. My uncle’s act of feeding my doll because I asked, was such a sweet gesture. In years to come, I came to realize this one little thing made that Christmas a wonderful memory.
During this time of year, we all should try to do an act or two of kindness for another. Calling an elderly relative who lives out of town, just to say hello and how are you; asking a single parent friend or co-worker if you can do something such as watch their child or children so they can do some Christmas shopping; volunteering at a local soup kitchen; donating toys to a local toy drive; donating to a homeless shelter. It is not how much you spend, the amount of time spent doing it, but the fact you are doing an act of goodwill and kindness.
Until next time….take a few moments from your busy holiday schedule with a cup of hot chocolate, a glass of egg nog or some hot cider and remember a wonderful memory of a Christmas past.
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