A CHRISTMAS LESSON
A CHRISTMAS LESSON
It was Thanksgiving time at the O’Malleys with Peter O’Malley, his wife Susan O’Malley, and their dear son Tommy O’Malley. The kitchen was warm with the scent of roast turkey, sweet potatoes, pumpkin pie, and eggnog. Susan hurriedly placed the last remaining silverware on the dining room table, just in time before their dinner guests arrived.
“Honey, is everything set? Tommy’s out of the bathtub and I’ve got him changing into his plaid shorts and vest.”
“Pete, honey, I’m almost there…make sure Tommy’s shoes are clean.”
Peter O’Malley was a good Christian man, and a loving and faithful husband to his wife Susan. Peter and Susan, however, wondered about little Tommy. Tommy had always had everything he could ever want. Peter had a terrific job as an architect, and Susan loved her job as a part-time realtor at a local real estate firm. Tommy had just turned five in April, and was a first-grader at Lincoln Elementary. Despite all the household’s relative wealth, the O’Malleys did not want their own son Tommy to miss the true meaning of Christmas. Christmas after all was not about Santa Claus, Rudolph the Reindeer, or even Frosty the Snowman. Christmas was about the birth of the Savior Jesus Christ, and the plan of redemption. Through their church, Peter and Susan had supported foreign missionaries to the Sudan, and to Kenya. The O’Malleys knew of the intense suffering of the indigenous people, especially the children. To teach Tommy a lesson, Peter and Susan had their own ‘redemptive plan’ for their son.
“Mommy, my shirt’s sticking out…can you fix it for me?” Tommy fiddled with his white shirt as he kicked his shoe against the kitchen doors.
“Here Tommy…there you go. Now get ready because our guests are almost here. Tell Daddy to help me carve the turkey.”
“Another turkey to carve honey? Chef Boyardee here…and ready to make minced meat out of your gorgeous turkey.”
“Pete! Really! Please, just carve the turkey…and nicely, very, very nicely.”
At ten minutes before seven o’clock in the evening, the dinner guests began to arrive. Peter’s co-workers from his architectural firm came in first bearing an expensive bottle of champagne, and early Christmas presents for the family. Next came Susan’s best friend from Catholic Charities, Marla who brought a beautiful vase of red roses and white forget-me-nots. The Suttons came in next to last, while the next door neighbors the Jacksons arrived last.
“Hey Peter, who’s going to the Super Bowl this year? I’ve got the Patriots and the Falcons.” John Erdman was Peter’s favorite senior draftsman.
“Oh come on John…it’s Thanksgiving. Can’t we think of what is good and right? Like eggnog, coffee, or tea? Actually, we should be thankful that God has given us good health and blessed lives.”
“Peter O’Malley! Is that all Thanksgiving is about? What about thanking our Father in Heaven, who sent His Only Son Jesus Christ?” Marla was indignant with Susan’s husband.
“Honey, the turkey looks great…and now please say grace…and please thank the Lord properly.” Susan smiled at little Tommy who had managed to sneak a piece of pumpkin pie into his mouth.
After nearly three hours, seven courses, four bottles of wine, one bottle of expensive champagne, and vanilla swirl ice cream with pumpkin and pecan pies, the guests were exhausted for the night. Slowly the guests made their exit through the front door thanking the O’Malleys. Tommy received a few too many pats on his head, and eventually retreated to the living room’s grand flat screen television to watch an episode of SpongeBob Squarepants. When the dishes were done and the kitchen and dining rooms cleaned, the family retired to their bedrooms. After Susan tucked Tommy into his small bed, which was in the shape of an Indy 500 race car, she kissed him goodnight and headed for the master bedroom.
“Peter, honey, are you sure that we’re doing the right thing? I mean, I’ve put a lot of work into my real estate career. Do we really have to do this to ourselves and to Tommy?” Susan was worried whether “the plan” Peter had developed would be the right move for the family.
“Baby, I know what I’m doing. Trust me. Tommy needs to learn a lesson that he’ll keep for the rest of his life. You shouldn’t worry about the trip overseas or the arrangement I have with my family. Really honey…relax and just trust me.”
“Goodnight sweetheart.” Susan was more relaxed and she scooted under the comforter.
“Goodnight…good-looking.” Peter took one more look at a glossy colored brochure.
The shopping mall was bustling with shoppers, window-shoppers, and small children on loose tethers. This was the time of year that everyone, but everyone, loved more than anything else. Christmas was always a time of good cheer and glad tidings. The children loved to sit on Santa’s lap and tell him everything their hearts desired. Some children wanted to tell Santa about all the bad things their brothers or sisters had done during the past year. At eight o’clock in the evening, Tommy and his mother Susan walked through the concourse on the ground level of the mall, and made their way to Santa’s chair.
“Mommy, mommy…is Santa Claus really going to give me more than he did last year?”
“Let’s see honey.” Susan guided Tommy through the line of children. Finally, when the two came before Santa Claus Susan lifted her son onto Santa’s lap.
“What do you want this year from the North Pole little one?” Santa’s beard was dangling a bit too much.
“I want…I want…well, let’s see…uhm…how about a toy car that really works…like mommy and daddy’s car…and…a minibike…and…a Star Wars Creature Set…and money…maybe one hundred dollars…that’s all, I think.” Tommy sat on Santa’s lap still wondering if he had left anything off his wish list.
“Oh, Tommy, that is your name isn’t it?” Santa paused as he tried to remember what to say next.
“Yeah, my name’s Tommy…O’Malley. You’re Santa!” Tommy smiled broadly.
“I’ve got some awful news for you Tommy. I won’t be able to bring you any presents this year.” Santa tried to look mournful.
“Why? Why? Why can’t you bring me presents?” Tommy’s eyes opened wide.
“Well…Tommy…because your family has no money. Your father and mother will both lose their jobs. No money Tommy, no presents. Sorry.” Santa was glad he remembered the gist of what Peter and Susan had told him to say.
Tommy screamed at the top of his lungs, and he jumped off Santa Claus’ lap.
“Mommy, did you and daddy…I mean…do we have any money?” Tommy looked at his mother with puppy eyes.
“Tommy, I was afraid to tell you that daddy and I will be fired from our jobs. That means no money for anything. We’ll have to move to a small apartment. Without your toys, without your bicycle, and without your comic books. Honey…we just won’t have any money left for anything at all.” Susan tried her best to prepare for the heartache her son would feel.
“No, no, no…you’re lying mommy…you’re lying!” Tommy began to weep and wiped away the tears from his eyes.
“Tommy, let’s go honey. Daddy’s at home packing up your clothes and teddy bear collection.”
“Whaaa? He can’t do that!” Tommy began to scream aloud again.
“Yes, that’s right Mr. Goodwin. Our house will be closing in three weeks. The family will be going to Africa. For nearly one year. Well, we do have plans upon our return to the States. Yes, thank you very much Mr. Goodwin. And goodnight.” Peter O’Malley placed the phone back in its place.
At thirty-three minutes past ten o’clock Susan and Tommy walked up the pebbled pathway to the front door. Susan had taken Tommy for his last strawberry milkshake at Teddy’s Bigger Shakes ‘N Cream. Tommy was exhausted from the shock of the horrible news, and from his intermittent crying.
“Hi honey. Did you pack up Tommy’s clothes and shoes?” Susan rested her hand gently on Tommy’s hair. Tommy was sucking his thumb.
"Mommy, how come our Christmas tree has only one string of lights? Where are the org-naments I made in school? The napkin ghosts?" Tommy was forlorn that there was only one present for him. A golden wrapped box of some kind.
"Look, Tommy. Go and open your Christmas present." Susan bit her lip.
"But it's too early. Can I really open it? Will I get more presents?" Tommy walked to the tree.
"Go on honey, and open it. Daddy wrapped it just for you."
Tommy tore apart the gold wrapping, and stared in disbelief.
"Mommy! It's just some stupid cookies!" Tommy threw down the shortbread cookies to the floor.
"I hate you. I hate you. I esh-plessely hate daddy. I hate Christmas." The angry little boy threw his Peanuts video against the television set, and ran to his room.
“Tommy?” Peter called to his son.
“Daa-a-ddy…why don’t we have any more money?” Tommy screamed at the top of his lungs.
Peter went to his son's room and sat on Tommy's bed.
“Tommy, your mother and I just lost our jobs. There’s nothing we can do about it. Next week we have to move across town to an apartment the size of mommy and daddy’s room. Son, we’ll never let anything harm you. It’ll be like camping. Don’t you remember the deer and the white rabbits? Maybe there will be deer and white rabbits there.”
“I don’t care about them anymore. I hate you and mommy!” Tommy kicked off his shoes and aimed them near his father.
“Tommy, will you please go to bed? I’ll tuck you in.” Susan walked over to the small race car bed and tucked in her son. She wanted to discuss her husband’s plan once more.
“Susan, the house will close in about three weeks. Remember what I told you? We’ll have enough money to do the missionary work in Kenya, and when we arrive back to the States, Uncle Richard has invited us to his mansion in New Hampshire. Everything is taken care of.” Peter wrapped his arms around his wife.
“But Pete, honey, Tommy is sick to his stomach. Can’t we give him a few Christmas presents this year?”
“I’m sorry, but no. This is a painful lesson for Tommy, but he’ll be a better man for it. Susan, you just have to trust me. Suzy, I really do love you!”
“Love you the same, honey. Off to bed.”
The apartment complex was old and musty, and its iron gates were badly rusted. Fortunately, the O’Malleys would only be there for one month. Tommy, however, was not aware of this. In their tiny apartment, Tommy slept on a sleeping bag. Peter would bring home the meals from McDonald’s. Susan tried her best to keep Tommy from crying. Tommy was pulled out of his school, and his mother taught him from home. One night, Tommy prayed to God.
“Dear God…why didn’t you give me any presents for Christmas? Why do you hate us? Why do you want me to die? I should kill myself and run in front of a truck. Goodnight or goodbye!”
Two weeks before the O'Malleys were to leave for Kenya, Susan bought a small stuffed tiger for Tommy.
"Tommy, you daddy and I will be leaving soon for our trip to Africa. I thought you might like this baby tiger. Maybe we'll see a lot of tigers, lions, antelope, and elephants."
"Mommy, I'm tired of being poor. Why can't we stay in Chicago? Maybe you could get a job...and daddy too. Wash dishes...'cuz you're good at it."
Susan took her son into her arms, and kissed his cheek.
"We'll have fun Tommy...I promise. There will be other children who could become your new friends. Oh, by the way Tommy, I bought you some new clothes. Want to see them?"
The trip to Africa was long and difficult, and the O’Malleys had to change planes a number of times. Susan let Tommy look out of the window, but he saw nothing but blue or dark skies. When the family reached Kenya, they moved into a mission house named Christ The King. There were other families there, and a number of them were from the States. At first Tommy was remorseful about the move to Africa, but in time he became friends with the other children at the mission house, as well as the local children.
“Tommy, this is Abuya and she would like to hear you talk about Christmas in Chicago.” Samuel was a local Kenyan teacher who loved children more than anything else.
“Well…Aboo-yah…Christmas is…no presents at all. None. Not one. Okay?” Tommy was still pouting about his last Christmas in the States.
“Tommy, gifts and presents are not all that Christmas is about.” Samuel reached into his pocket to give Tommy a gift. It was a very small diamond.
“Take this Tommy. I think that one day you’ll appreciate it. I know Abuya would love to have it.”
“It looks like candy. Oh…it’s like mommy’s ring. Oh, okay…I’ll take it.” Tommy gave the diamond to Abuya.
“Why did you give the diamond to me Tommy?” Abuya was surprised.
“Merr-rry Christmas…Aboo-yah. Actually, I don’t like it.” Tommy smiled anyway.
At Christ The King mission, there was a family from London, England. The Wards had a son named Edmond. He and Tommy became best friends. One evening after dinner the two boys went out to the pool, and sat along the side with their feet hanging into the water.
"Tommy, what did you like best about Chicago? Do you like football?"
"Football? What my daddy watches?" Answered Tommy.
"No...I mean...soccer. Do you like it?" Edmond began to churn the water with his feet.
"Stop splashing E-ddd-mond. Hey, Eddie. Yeah, but we had to throw it away...'cuz we lost all our money."
"My mum said that your parents sold everything to come here to do missionary work."
"Well...all I know is that w-e-e-e are dirty poor." Tommy hit Edmond on his arm.
"Best friends forever Tommy?"
"You got it...E-e-e-ddie!" Tommy laughed.
Africa was so very hot for the family; luckily, the mission house was air conditioned. To take Tommy's mind off his lamented miseries, Peter and Susan took their little son on an African safari to see the native animals. The boy loved the safari and wanted to take home a lion cub.
"Tommy...remember the Lion King? Simba will become the king one day, and a king needs to have his own space. It's his kingdom. The savannah is Simba's home honey." Susan stroked Tommy's hair away from his eyes.
"Tommy, one day you'll treasure your time here in Kenya. I promise. You know, Abuya and Abdalla really love you. They told me that you spoke to them about John 3:16. What does that passage in the bible say?" Peter dusted off Tommy's hat and replaced it on his son's head.
"For God so loved the world that...He gave us His Son...as a Christmas present." Tommy smiled.
After nearly one year, when Tommy had turned six years old, the O’Malleys moved back to the States and stayed with Peter’s Uncle Richard in New Hampshire. It was almost Christmas time once again, but Tommy was not taken to any mall or to any Santa Claus. A week before Christmas Eve, Peter, Susan, and Tommy were sitting in front of an immense fireplace. A fifteen foot tall Christmas tree stood in the grand hall, but no wrapped presents were under the Christmas tree.
“Mommy…I really hate Christmas.” Tommy gazed absently at the fire.
“Why do you hate Christmas Tommy? Didn’t you enjoy your time in Kenya? Didn’t you have fun with your friends? Didn’t you get to see the wild African animals? What is Christmas about Tommy?” Peter waited for his son to answer him.
“Well, daddy, I guess Jesus came to save us…I mean…me. And…that poor people…like poor kids don’t have anything like we did in Chicago. But…well…we’re poor again. No Christmas as usual.” Tommy poked at his socks.
“Tommy, daddy and I have new jobs with Uncle Richard. We’ll be living here. In this great big mansion. And…well…Uncle Richard bought you a little car that runs on batteries. Daddy bought you a brand new electric helicopter. And I, Tommy, bought you…a new pony. Well, actually Uncle Richard bought you the pony. But I helped to choose it. Merry Christmas Tommy. Daddy and I will always love you.”
Tommy tried not to cry, but a few tears fell from his eyes.
“Merr-rry Christmas…Santa…and Jesus…and Father God…and thanks…I guess I’m still a little naughty.”
MERRY CHRISTMAS…AND MAY THE GOOD LORD ALWAYS WATCH OVER YOU.
Note: It is the Lord God Almighty who gives life to mankind, as well as the rain for food and crops, and talents and abilities by which mankind can worship The Creator.
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