Untraditional and Noncommercial

Dolls in the Window Photo by Dee Kamp

 

Untraditional and Noncommercial

Several years ago I was feeling a bit more down than usual over the strong display of commercialism over the true meaning of Christmas. Then suddenly I found myself witnessing a most untraditional, noncommercial way of someone sharing the real meaning of Christmas.  

"Unto the upright there arises light in the darkness;

 He is gracious, and full of compassion, and righteous."

 Psalm 112:4 NKJ

 

He wasn’t sitting on a throne for children to climb up and onto his lap to have their pictures taken and then rushed away. He didn’t have a bell to ring, a bucket to collect donations.  No, he was simply strolling slowly up and down the main street of this small village town.

Yes, he was dressed as old St Nicholas in a long red robe. It was faux fur trimmed with a pointed hood made by his wife in the design from the “old” country he was from. He had a genuine white beard, neatly trimmed and was slim not one bit fat. His smile was genuine, his laugh sincere and truly jolly.

He had no bag of toys over his shoulder but rather pockets full of little wrapped candies, a ready hug for a delighted child, or the weary shopper who showed they needed one. He had a propensity for sitting down on the town’s bench to listen unhurriedly to child, adult, shopkeeper or street person.  

As I watched unseen from the window above, my heart was delighted by what I saw. I learned later the only promise he gave was the promise of hope God sent to all as a wee little baby born in Bethlehem.  

“The gift of time, the gift of giving another the feeling they are worthy is a gift that is timeless, a gift for all generations, a gift that is the truth of why God sent His Son.” ―Anonymous  

“Unconditional and Nontraditional” by Dee Kamp, Grace Every Morning Ministries© December 12, 2013