Jarful of Stories -

this week's story

Broadcast: December 25, 2011

What does a Christmas tree feel? I wish I knew. Here’s a story that looks at the holiday tradition from a different point of view. See if this is what you might feel if you lived in a forest with all the other trees.

THE LITTLE CHRISTMAS TREE

    The little Christmas tree had heard all kinds of stories and none of them were good. She had heard how people came to find you in the forest. And when they picked you, they took out a saw and cut your trunk.
    Of course it hurt. Why wouldn’t it hurt? And then they stuffed you into a car or maybe just threw you in the back of a truck. Sometimes the people would take the tree and flop it on the roof of their car, strap it down and drive away.
    The Christmas tree would never see its home again. The forest would just be a fleeting memory for the tree.
    Well, the little Christmas tree breathed a sigh of relief because she was so far up in the forest no one would ever find her, she decided. All around her were her friends and family. Overhead was the blue sky and at night, the stars were so bright it was almost like daytime. Behind her were the beautiful mountains she loved so much.
    As the days of winter wore on and the snow piled up, the little Christmas tree felt safer and safer. She enjoyed the short, cold days of winter and looked forward to summer with such excitement that she didn’t even notice what was happening. The family wearing skis and snowshoes were laughing and singing as they made their way through the forest.
    People! They were people! the little Christmas tree thought. What were they doing way up here in the forest?
    The tree tired so hard to be ugly or disfigured or something so the people wouldn’t notice her. She wasn’t any different than the rest of the trees, she thought. Why would they bother her?
    “Hey look, Mommy!” one of the younger people said. “This one is perfect.”
    No, I’m not, thought the little Christmas tree. I’m ill-tempered, demanding and sassy. And I don’t care to have someone take a sharp saw and cut through my trunk!
    “Oh, yes, honey,” the big person said. “That tree is just about as good as it gets. I think this one will do nicely.”
    By that time another one of the people had shown up. He was the tallest one of all and he was carrying some tools and a bag.
    “Did you find the perfect Christmas tree?” the tallest person asked.
    “I think so, Daddy,” the little one said.
    You don’t want me, the tree said to herself. I want to live! I want to be free and live my life to the fullest. Why me? Why me? Look at all the others in the forest! Can’t you pick a tree closer to the road or something?
    Instead of moving on, the humans began to take things out of the bag and prepare the tools.
    The tree began to shake and tremble when one of the humans walked over to it and did something — something strange and wonderful. The little person hung a Christmas tree ornament on the tree out in the middle of the forest.
    “Don’t worry, little tree,” the smallest human said. “We won’t hurt you.”
    And so the people decorated the tree without cutting it down. As soon as it was covered with lights and shinny tinsel, they stepped back to admire their work.
    The humans got out a lunch from their bag and ate their food while enjoying the beauty of the little Christmas tree.
    And when they were all finished and when the sun was beginning dip behind the mountains, the humans took down all the decorations, gathered up everything and left the little Christmas tree alone with her friends and family. All that was left behind were the footprints. All that was taken was the wonderful memories of the little Christmas tree so far up in the forest on such a wonderful Christmas eve.

The End

Footprints and memories — I’ve always been taught to treat the natural world that way. Unfortunately it doesn’t always work out. In this case the tree remained and the joy expanded. Everyone wins. And it just so happens, that’s my Christmas wish!