A Christmas Story For You

As we approach Christmas Day, I would like to share with you the story about my favorite Christmas ornament. Enjoy and Merry Christmas!

My Favorite Christmas Ornament

As a young Physical Therapist, I had just moved to Orlando and was to celebrate my first Christmas in Florida. I bought an artificial Christmas tree since I was allergic to pine. I had no ornaments for my tree, so I went on a hunt for them throughout the Orlando area. Of course, I bought a few at Disney’s Buena Vista Shopping area even though it stretched my budget. I also got a few from discount stores. Nevertheless, my tree was not very full. The lights had to be the main event. However not long before Christmas I went to the grocery store (Publix) and there was a display of non-breakable ornaments that weren’t at all fancy, but I spied one that was especially poignant for me.

On the front of a foam bulb, on a white background was a picture that spoke to me. It was of a small child dressed in warm clothes with a background of old fashioned London-type houses reminiscent of the times of Charles Dickens. The little boy had an axillary crutch under one arm and on the same side, his foot was off the ground. He was smiling and waving with his free hand. I’m sure he was meant to portray Tiny Tim of Charles Dickens’ A Christmas Carol. This picture spoke to me because of my everyday work with children who were disabled and using crutches of all types. His happy outgoing demeanor reminded me of the children I worked with who despite their disabilities, knew no other way of life and therefore asked not for pity or sadness, but lived their lives like any other happy child.

On the back of the ornament was this quote from A Christmas Carol.

“And it was always said of him, that he knew how to keep Christmas well, if any man alive possessed the knowledge. May that be truly said of us, and all of us! And as Tiny Tim observed, God Bless Us, Everyone!”

Every year when I put this ornament on my tree I think of all the children I have helped over the years, but the truth of the matter is I have been blessed immeasurably by working with them. So every year I pray that they have been blessed with good lives as much as I have been blessed by them.

Tiny Tim