I remember some Christmas times.  I remember some happy ones, I also remember some not so happy. In a way I hate Christmas time.  You see I think of those that don't have.  The ones seeing a bit of hard times, I guess you might say. The ones too proud to ask for a bit of help.  I also think of years gone by when, if you didn't have, there was no Salvation Army to ask for a bit of help.

I remember my mother telling the doll story.  The doll for Christmas.  It was the same doll that was hers the Christmas the year before.   Just freshen it up a bit.  A nickel??™s worth of candy.  That was Christmas.  Dinner would be a pot of beans, maybe a bit of fat back. Nothing special, that was normal meal anyways, lucky to have that.  I remember her telling about the first day of school after Christmas.  The lies each of the tribe would make up.  It was a one room school. No two kids told the same lie about the fine dinner they had. The toys that were under the tree that was never there to start with.  Tree and toys; that was a dream. Dinner also was a dream.

I think of some of my own Christmas days of the past.  I too remember some that were only a dream of what I wanted, but it wasn't under the tree. I too remember Christmas dinner. A pot of beans and some bacon.  We were up in the world, had a bacon square. I too told a lie about the fine toys, and the most wonderful Christmas dinner. I was lucky, had no brothers or sisters to mess up the story.

That is why when I walk by the pot the Salvation Army has at different places.  I peal off a dollar from my bank roll of five dollars and slip in the pot.  Feel kind of bad that I have four dollars left to waste on some Dollie. But she did tell me her food supply is getting a bit low. She is blonde and beautiful you know, and knows how to stand on her four little feet and bat those big eyes.

I guess some may call me and others that drop a little money in the pot a bleeding heart.  The thing is one should part with a little to help others from time to time.  I remember a man many years ago. There is some lines wrote about him in the best selling, most wanted, most read book of all times. He said when you do for the ones in need, you have done for him.

He came to be with us a short time, we call his birthday Christmas time.  What better gift can one give then to drop a few bucks from your bank roll into the pot? I know I feel a bit warmer after I do. My old worn jacket seems to have a different feel about it., not quite so thin.

I was lucky to have read a story another man wrote, about a couple pair of ice skates.  I know the feeling,  both in giving and receiving.  You see I remember some man who gave me gifts at Christmas time. I wish I knew his name, but time has washed the name from my mind.  Maybe that is the way he would want it.  I have given things to children, that I thought was going to be short on the gift list a time or two.  Maybe time will wash my name from their memory also. 

I also think of people that have bad things to happen at or near Christmas time.  We are in a terrible war of sorts right now.  I think of the ones that will be getting some bad news, at this time of year.  It will be years before Christmas returns to them if it ever does. For them I say God Bless you a extra dose.  Those need an extra dose of love, and kindness from others.

Remember Christmas is a time to give, love, and kindness to those that are in time of need. I think it says in the Book of Books.  More blessed to give then to receive.  So maybe it is all right to be a little on the Bleeding Heart side at this time of year.

Bill Walker
wildbill6807 @ yahoo.com