by Joel at www.spiritofstnicholas.org

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"Oh, he's dead all right," Tammy thought.

She stared at the goldfish floating upside down. The finned victim had been a birthday present to her youngest daughter just three weeks ago. As she scooped up the limp fish, she thought about her children's Christmas wish lists. Would any of the items keep the children's interest longer than this poor fish? She doubted it.

Not that there was anything particularly uninteresting about the wish lists, they were just not particularly interesting either. There were games and toys for the young ones and hip fashion accessories for the older one. But for Tammy, the dead fish swirling down the toilet was symbolic of so many of the gifts she'd bought for the children over the years ... used briefly and then tossed aside.

She had a thought: what if I gave them something that would last? She remembered a gift drive mentioned by her pastor last Sunday. The local grocery store and the church were co-hosting a charitable gift-giving event for the holidays. The next trip to the grocery store Tammy made sure to stop by the "Wish Tree" in order to lure her daughters into the idea.

"So, how does this work?" she inquired.

"We have worked with community groups in the area to identify gift items for specific individuals in need. You can browse the various 'wishes' on the tree and select any you'd like. Then, bring the items here by next Thursday. We will deliver the items anonymously on your behalf," the volunteer explained.

"Mom!" Nora exclaimed. "This one says, 'One pair of men's black dress shoes, size 11, for our Daddy,' ... does that make you sad or what?! Awwww ..."

Tammy thanked the woman for her help and left to load groceries with her children.

"You know, I've been thinking about that Wish Tree. I'd like to help some of those folks. A little effort on our part could be a big help to someone else. I want to ask your help, too, girls. I would like to give you cash for your Christmas presents this year instead of more stuff. I'd like you to use it to help someone on the Wish Tree. I think you will be happy about it if you give it a try. If we all pitch in, we could take care of the man who needs shoes." Perhaps it was because they saw how much Tammy wanted to do it. The girls quickly agreed on her proposal.

Nora, the eldest, dove into the task of finding the best possible pair of shoes. Her goal was to find a pair of dress shoes for such a good price that she could get a second pair too. She scrounged everywhere. One day, while running errands with her mom, she spotted a small 'discount' shoe store.

She was able to find a pair of black dress shoes costing a couple of dollars less than what she had been finding elsewhere. Still, this would only leave $25 for a second pair. With time running out, Tammy suggested that they buy the shoes and add polishing accessories with the remaining money. Nora reluctantly agreed.

At the counter, the clerk asked, "Did you find everything today? Are these for your dad, young lady?"

"No." She explained what the items were for and that she had hoped to get two pairs of shoes but could only afford one.

"Well, that's quite a nice gesture you're making for Christmas. Let's say I pitch in ... hmmmm .... let's see ...," he said as he placed a "Buy One, Get One Free" sticker to the shoe box. "As the owner of this shop I declare a today-only, limited offer!" He winked. "Please, why don't you go ahead and get a second pair. What exactly were you looking for?" He helped Nora find a pair of brown dress shoes.

The experience with the shop owner and the gift-giving put the girls in great spirits. Each of them made greeting cards. The youngest finger-painted a star. Nora's card simply said: "Merry Christmas - may these shoes help your soles as much as giving them has helped my soul!" The good humor and feelings generated by the family Wish Tree project made for the most memorable Christmas. A very nice ending, if that were all.

That Easter, the pastor introduced a young family. He said he wanted the congregation to give them a particularly warm welcome because they were not only new to the church but also new in town. The young father looked moved but uncomfortable in his ill-fitting suit. Nora's eyes drifted down to his shoes. There they were; the highly polished, beautiful black dress shoes. Tugging on her mom's sleeve and nodding at the shoes, Nora silently communicated with Tammy.

Their insight was confirmed the following Sunday. The young father wore the brown shoes that were 'free' from the shop keeper. They came to learn the working class family had moved to their community the past November in search of a new life but lost all their possessions in an apartment fire. They had no insurance. Through the parents' hard work, and the support of the community, the family had come back from the brink of financial disaster within the year. By the next Christmas, they too were picking names from the Wish Tree.

Fate allowed Tammy's girls to learn not only about the joy of anonymous giving but also what a difference even a small gesture can make. The Wish Tree became part of the family's Christmas tradition. The girls had found that it was their favorite part of the season and Tammy had less clutter in her home, too!

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