The plain white envelope...

[Jypsi]

REVISION:  I received this email and thought I would share it with you all...this is not my story...JYP! 


It's just a small white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so.

It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas -- oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it – the overspending, the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma -- the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.

Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties, and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.

Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended. Shortly before Christmas, th ere was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestring seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.

Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, “I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids -- all kids -- and he knew them, having co ached little league football, baseball, and lacrosse.

That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years.

For each Christmas, I followed the tradition -- one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.

The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.

As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn't end there.

 

You see, we lost  Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was  still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. 


But Christmas Eve  found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning it was joined by  three more.

Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed  an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday  will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with  wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the  envelope.

Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with  us.


May we  all remember Christ, who is the reason for the season, and the true Christmas  spirit this year and always.

God Bless! --

[buffy27]

Jypsi-- that is the greatest story.  I am so sorry for your loss- but you seemed to have raised great kids and will always know that you and Mike did that together.  You brought tears to my eyes.  I would love to start something like that with my fiance.   

[Chaos Tamer]

 My heart breaks for your physical loss (physical because your DH is always with you).  The tradition of the envelope and its growth is such an awesome tribute to DH/D.  God bless your family now and always.

[kansasgirl88]

Although you all have suffered a tremendous loss, it sounds like a part of your husband is still living in each one of you. Your kids are testament to the way in which you and Mike raised them.   

[pinkbegone]

 ok, so I'll modify mine now.  How funny Jypsi!!! 

But, I did love it even though it's not about you!! 

I thought just maybe it was because I read others post.   

I won't assume next time!!

[Jypsi]

OK...I'm an idiot!!!     This is NOT my story!!  Just an email I got that I thought would be good to share with you!!!  I was thinking of starting this tradition with my family!!!

OH GOSH!!  I AM SO SORRY TO MAKE YOU THINK THIS WAS ME!  

EDIT: Thank GOD(!!!) my DH is still alive and kicking, when the day comes that God takes my dh and He choses to do so BEFORE He takes me I am afraid I won't be sane enough to post here for a LONG time. PB&J..I'm sure that you will get the hysterical phone call!  In the mean time, you ladies are soooo  awesome...
Man I feel like a JERK!!!   

[Sassy2724]

Don't feel badly, Jypsi! I read it and I caught the part at the beginning that explained that it wasn't your story. It is very inspiring though!

[Jypsi]

Don't feel badly, Jypsi! I read it and I caught the part at the beginning that explained that it wasn't your story. It is very inspiring though!

Thanks Sassy, but the problem was when I posted this i DIDN'T put that first note in....I had to go add to keep others from thinking it was about me...

[kansasgirl88]

***head slap***

Sorry, Jypsi!  Glad it wasn't your DH!  But a great tradition to consider starting. 

[buffy27]

Jypsi,  I am so glad that this was not about you.  though I am so sorry for the woman who did lose her husband.  Thanks for revising the top though. 

[pinkedout]

We  all need more traditions like this that show the true meaning of Christmas and not all of the commercial aspects.  Does anyone out there have some cool traditions?

[pinkbegone]

We  all need more traditions like this that show the true meaning of Christmas and not all of the commercial aspects.  Does anyone out there have some cool traditions?

our family is doing a ginger bread house every Christmas Eve! 

I have to go buy a new one now, Lucy the dog, got the munchies last night!   
dang her!!

[kansasgirl88]

Luuuucy...you got some 'splainin' to do!!!!


Sorry, PBJ...couldn't resist!!

[Sassy2724]

Growing up, we would alwaye sit and read the Christmas story together from the bible on Christmas morning (we didn't do anything else before that was done!) Then we might read The Polar Express and my mom would usually make an enormous breakfast! Then, we would open presents and call my grandparents. We were in PJs most of the morning (but I remember those traditions well!!)

[pinkedout]

I just thought of a tradition at my house.  We would always watch White Christmas on Christmas Eve with Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.  The dancer was Vera Ellen.  I was a tap dancer growing up -- so that movie always thrilled me.