The True Meaning of Christmas....according to Bill

Christmas has come and gone and with it it brought a lot of changes in the VBerg household. A new side of Bill has come out and I don't know if Christmas is to blame.....but I guess I just don't know what else to blame it on. Could it simply be the sinful nature of the human race? I'm sure you are wondering what the new side of Bill could possibly be. He is already so wonderfully complex. Well, where should I begin?

I'll begin with the day after our Christmas festivities were over. Bill was so excited about his red Case Tractor with not just 2 back tires, but 4. It's a beaut, let me tell you. I can't remember the exact details, but let's just say Bill and I exchanged some words. The next thing I know he's kicking over his cherished tractor and throwing around the baler and any other implement he could get his hands on. So I told him, "Bill, you are forgetting the reason for the season. Mary's boy child, Jesus Christ, was born on Christmas Day. Sheesh. What's with the attitude?". Bill knew he was out of line.... we both knew it, so that's where I left it. I figured he'd come around.

Unfortunately that's not where this story ends. All of a sudden greed has entered in. Bill began coveting Jester's stocking stuffers. I can hardly blame him. They're pretty darn cool. Anyways, that's besides the point. Jester was minding his own business, playing with his new squishy trucks when Bill's greed got the best of him. He sneaks up behind Jester and steals the trucks right out from under him. It was like stealing candy from a baby. I couldn't believe it. My Bill? Stealing? So I told him to give the trucks back to Jester. He reluctantly returned ONE of the trucks to Jester. Sheesh, I thought. But, I didn't want to push it. It had been a long day already. I was busily preparing lunch for Bill when out of the corner of my eye I see my shoe in Bill's hand. What in the world is he up to now? All of a sudden, "WACK!". He had hit Jester square in the face, leaving him helpless and crying...and totally stunned. In fact, we all were. I think even Bill was stunned at what had just happened. I think he had a full circle moment right then. He realized that he had let the World's 'Spirit of Christmas' get into his heart....a spirit that is all about how much I can get and doing whatever it takes to get it. As I consoled Jester I really felt that no words needed to be said. I knew that Bill was remorseful and that was all the punishment he needed right then. Later on him and I had a good talk. He told me that from now on he wanted to make a conscious effort to be less materialistic.....he wanted to fight in the opposite spirit of greed. He wanted to be more giving. Suddenly a little twinkle appeared in his eye. "Jesus is the reason for the season, cliche, but true," He said. I agree, Bill, I agree.