So it is that time of year again, and yesterday as we started our search for materials to put in the cute ceramic dish we already bought, we became frustrated at the poor quality of the Christmas trees whose greenery is ususally the base for our arrangement. Last year the tips on the tree's limbs were so beautiful! This year the pruning process had made most of the trees full, but with tiny little tips that were not useful for my purpose. After making the rounds to all the ususal sellers, we had almost given up hope. The trees were almost sold out at every place, and what was left would be expensive to use for our purpose. The budget would be blown before we even got started. A little in fear of what we were going to do, I just asked the Lord what we should do.
Then I remembered the small stands along the road where I had seen local individuals who had purchased a few trees themselves and were selling them. Driving by, I had noticed how beautiful they were this year! So Jimmy cut through the back road and as we approached the first stand the sun was setting in the cloudy skies. There were no lights and we thought that the stand owner had gone home. But as we pulled in, there he sat in his truck.
Jimmy called to him to know if he was leaving. He said he always stayed til a little after dark, and was just trying to stay warm. He allowed us to look as the darkness was threatening to make it impossible soon. He said, this was the last of the stock, and if we could pick one we liked, he would reduce the price a bit. Jimmy explained what we needed it for, and that the tree itself didn't need to be pretty shaped, just have good tips on the limbs. So instead of trying to sell us a tree, he said. If you prefer, I have a pile of cuttings that you can have. Of course I will sell you a tree, but if there is enough, you can take all you want.
Now, the stores will give you the cuttings, if you buy a tree, but otherwise they will only sell the cuttings to you. When he led us back to the trimming, the pile was large and he even offered to cut the branches off the trunk stumps for easier hauling. It was quickly getting dark and still this man offered in a spirit of kindness.
Well, we bought tree anyway, and took the cuttings we were able to get into our vehicle, and he gave us a great price, so we gave him a bit more. Jimmy insisted, because we had just saved money and gotten much more than we would have. The man told us of how last year he had just unloaded his trees, when he fell from his truck and broke his wrist. His trees had gone to a near total loss because he had no one to tend the store while he was in the hospital. This year, he said they had made a little profit and had these trees yet to sell. What a joy that the Lord had frustrated our search in the stores so that we could be a part of His blessing this man who was so kind and generous.
I couldn't help but think, that this was like living a real Christmas movie. It was what I felt Christmas was really about. I was sad that the previous year there had been no one who was free to help this man sell his trees. I hoped that even this one small act from one small businessman was an inication that our nation could get its heart back in place and become the America that knew what really made good business sense, and bring customers back.
I was almost sad that we would not be making these arrangements as gifts next year, for I knew where our first stop for a tree would be.
I pray God blesses this man today. And I thank God for helping me know there are still people in this world who can still remember what Christmas spirit is about.
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