When I was about ten, I had my heart set on getting a fancy doll for Christmas. I had visions of a Victorian silk gown and a big poofy hairdo. I knew she wasn’t a doll I could play with but I wanted her for her dress. Even then I was making elaborate doll clothes.
Christmas at our house was always a joyous time. Mom cooked mountains of cookies. There were always friends dropping by and with seven brothers and sisters, there was always something to do. Kids never think (at least they shouldn’t have to in my opinion) about stretching the budget to buy for so many kids so I never gave it a thought that I wouldn’t get that doll.
I remember going to Tony’s Variety Store with my same age siblings. We each had $5.00 to spend on presents for everyone. We carefully hid our treasures from one another as we found the perfect things. Mom had to stand with her back to the store so she wouldn’t see what her present would be. Oh it was high drama in our young lives.
Christmas morning was all excitement and fun. We each took turns opening our presents. Ohhing and awwwwing and feeling thrilled that we’d pleased our family members. My final gift was in a box smaller than I expected but that might be ok, there were small and elegant dolls as well. As I unwrapped the present, I could tell from the box it was a doll… it was going to be the most wonderful doll a girl ever got. And there she was, not a Victorian doll but a contemporary doll with a red velvet dress and a red velvet hat.
Tears started to gather in my eyes. She wasn’t anything like the doll I wanted. How unfair. How wrong. At that moment I looked up and saw the tears in my mother’s eyes. In that blink of an eye, I knew Christmas wasn’t about GETTING but about giving. I knew that Mom had gotten me the very best doll that she could afford. I didn’t want one more tear to fall from Mom’s eyes. I hugged my doll to my chest and told her that it was the best present I’d ever gotten and that I’d love her forever and that my tears were happy tears. Mom’s tears became happy tears too.
That doll, Clarice has a special spot on my wardrobe. She’s been much loved and gently worn (as we all are 40 years later) She’ll always be there as a reminder that Christmas is about giving and not about getting.
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| The Christmas I learned that giving is what matters. |
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travelwoman
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Dec 18 @ 11:54AM
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Awwwwwwwwwww.....
What a lovely story! 
And how perceptive you were at that young age..... 
Nice blog...
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IB4U
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Dec 18 @ 12:08PM
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Meliss
Isn't Christmas a great time of the year, We have learned so much and taught our
young the true meaning... 
I very well written and heart warming story... 
Did you ever get that doll of your dreams ??
Thank You for sharing... 
IB4U
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chris549547
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Dec 18 @ 12:10PM
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I think we all have simular lessons that we have learned,for this time of year
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ladykay488
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Dec 18 @ 12:12PM
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Christmas is about giving and not about getting This is so true. I remember the first time I had a job and wanted to buy my mom and dad a Christmas present. I was about ten years old and my aunt and uncle let me work at their store, so that I could buy them Christmas. My dear aunt help me pick their Christmas and ordered it for me. I will never forget the looks on their faces that year at Christmas when they opened up their presents. What a good feeling that was. Thanks for sharing! 
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530Meliss
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Dec 18 @ 12:20PM
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Thank you buddlies. She became the doll of my dreams. Eventually I made a porcelain doll… that was the biggest project ever. When I make something I want it to be perfect so I didn’t cut myself any slack that it was my first (and last) doll. I made her a dress to dream on but she’s not as special as the doll Mom (and Dad but he didn’t do the shopping) gave me.
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Sugar_Lee
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Dec 18 @ 12:37PM
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Wonderful Story..More people should realize that is not really about gifts but sharing, love and the birthday of Christ...
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DG1971
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Dec 18 @ 1:28PM
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that was a great Christmas story. I feel selfish for asking for so much when I was a kid.
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RomanticLibra106
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Dec 18 @ 1:50PM
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GREAT blog! Kudos to you!
Merry Christmas to you!
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firstfarmboy
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Dec 18 @ 2:46PM
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I was brought up on a limited budget as well, but loved everything that I was given and loved giving gifts as well. We were all brought up to help others in need, and do what we can do. I have a good job now and I make sure that throughout the year when I see blanket go onsale, I buy a dozen, and come winter time, I donate them all to the Salvation army as they look for extra every year. its the one thing that I look forward to every Christmas. Now I have a restaurant downtown, I also donate food to the shelters for Christmas as well as send all leftovers there as well.
Great blog!!!
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redtigr
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Dec 18 @ 8:50PM
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A very sweet story...
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