Looking for the true meaning of Christmas

Chapter 1 The New Boy in Town on the night before Christmas

It t'was the night before Christmas. I had just arrived in the town of Lincoln County New Mexico from Silver City New Mexico. I was a very young boy who had just turned the tender age of 15.

I walked the streets of Lincoln County New Mexico. And what I saw made me very sad. I saw people buying things that costed a lot of money.

They even fought each other and killed each other over them. I went to the old barn that I was staying in to stay out of the cold weather.

I sat on the floor of the barn against the wall and I cried. Had people forgotten what Christmas is all about? Does the birth of a baby in a stable so very long ago even mean anything to people anymore?

The next day was Christmas Eve. I decided to go and ask people if they knew what the true meaning of Christmas was.

But they didn't bother to answer my questions. They cold looks and pushed me out of the way. Said get out of the way you damn dumb kid we don't have the time to answer your dumb questions.

I saw a store and the sign on the door read Tunstall 's general store. I saw a man handing some stuff to a young half Navajo and half Mexican boy named Chavez.

At first I was afraid to go into the store and ask my question. But something inside of me told me to go inside the store and ask my question.

I walked up to the man and said excuse me sir do you know what the true meaning of Christmas is?

I stood there in fear waiting to hear go away you damn stupid kid. But that wasn't what I heard at all.

The man turned to me and smiled. His smile and the look in his eyes had let me know that I had nothing to dread.

He asked me what my name was. I told him that my name is William H Bonney. He told me that his name was John Tunstall. And he would be happy to tell me what the true meaning of Christmas is.

That night after supper. Mr Tunstall calls me over to him. And says William earlier today you asked me what the true meaning of Christmas was.

I am going to tell you all about the true meaning of Christmas. He read the Christmas story from the Bible to me.

And said you see William that is the true meaning of Christmas. I smiled as I wiped the tears from my eyes.

Christmas isn't about the giving and the getting it is about family and friends and the loving. And the birth of Jesus.