The Christmas String

THE CHRISTMAS STRING

 

When I was eight years old, my father brought a pine tree into the house, from the forest.  My mother asked, "How do you like our christmas tree?"  And, I told her, "That's no christmas tree, it's just an old pine tree from the forest.  I know, because I tied that string on there, so I wouldn't get lost."

 

My mother assured me that that string was how she knew that this was a christmas tree.  She took that filthy old string and cleaned it up and cross-stitched a saying on a heart that hung from it, at the top of that tree and all of the christmas trees that we had.

 

Now, it is over fifty years later and my mother has just passed away.  We lost our father about ten years ago.  Mom died during the holidays and it was very hard.  I was sitting in her parlor weeping into my hands and feeling very lost.  The thought of not having her to comfort me, anymore, was overwhelming.

 

Her cat walked past the christmas tree and caused a little bell ornament to ring.  I looked up at the tree and there it was; the christmas string.  I barely could remember what was written on the heart, but when I did a smile came to my face and heart.

 

     XXXX          XXXX               

  X         X      X         X

X   YOU   X  X  WILL  X

X  NEVER  X      BE     X

 X  LOST, BECAUSE  X

   X      I WILL        X

     X   ALWAYS     X

       X COME TO  X

         X  FIND    X

           X YOU  X

             X   !  X

               X  X

                 X   Even in death she had found me, when I was so very

                       lost.

 

Honorary Mention

Aug 19, 2011

• The 'One Day' Contest
• The Christmas String

 

Author's Note

This is simply a short story.

My mother, Susie Q on this site, is very much alive and well!

Love ya, Mom!!

Reviews

[Desert Dreamer]

Such a wonderful story...amazing how little things we do, like the making of this christmas string message, can have the most meaning to those that love us.

The first lines of the story had me heartbroken, seeing the tree that was most likely loved by a child who tied the string on it, cut down for decoration. How cruel we are to cut down our best-shaped trees in the forests (I don't participate in the tree cutting, it is hard for me to celebrate knowing that a tree just lost it's life). I liked the way you turned this around to re-use the string again in your story in a positive way.

[Warrior]

Great story telling. This did justice in the realm of getting the message across. Great message. There's lot of times where a story can have a great message to aim for, and have a lot of under lining things but then no one gets it, and if no one gets it, then the point has failed. But in my opinion this did well to get the message across. You made it clear, which is why I think it's good. Keep up the good work. What was also great was that I could imagine the story as I read it, and that is also a strong point of stories. The ability to have the reader imagine it because after all we're reading not watching it, but it was as if I was there as I read this, and that is great. Good job once again.

[AriV]

This simple short story was beautiful and really special because it demonstrates the significance of a time period in the life of the character that clearly means a lot to her

[Toni Cosoleto Bonetti]

Christina, thank you for "finding me" when you wrote that wonderful review about the poem I wrote for my mother ..... and thank you for directing me to this story. What a tender, loving story of a mother's love. I'm glad you have your mother still here with you .... Keep her close. xo

[Sarah Amanda Fletterich..]

I definately loved this poem...It actually brought a tear to my eye. I love you mom.

[Ellen Hammond]

What a lovely, tear jerking story! You have written this with such deep emotion that I would have thought it was true if your mom was not on my friends list. Simply beautiful!

[Angel Bird]

This brought tears to my eyes. Such a heart-warming story. You are truly gifted.

[Elizabeth]

Oh wow, that almost made me tear up. Your love for your mom is shown very powerfully. What a sweet message amidst loss :) I think I'll go hug my mom just because now haha. Good piece, beautifully introspective

Reminds me of the card my sister and I made and sent to our grandmother a few years before she died. She framed it and always had it placed on her nightstand. I had no clue that such a silly thing meant so much to her...
Makes you think about what's really important in your life.

[Crowley]

Choking me up a bit on this one...really good and uplifting story, made my morning to read this. They never are really gone.