Little Perspectives

by Stephanie Olsen

"Whudja get fer Christmas?"

My little girl was holding her big new baby doll.

"Nic," responded her blue-eyed friend. (That's Polish for nothing, pronounced "neets".)

There's poverty everywhere, of course – in your neighborhood, around the block. But way over here in our tiny corner of Eastern Europe, we've brought the comparative wealth and conspicuous consumerism of America, introducing it to people who might otherwise have remained personally untouched.

Little Marta, the five-year-old with big eyes but no presents, and her six brothers and sisters who live just down the street in a two-room shack with no plumbing, now have to grapple somehow with the question of why Santa doesn't bring them gifts. My own daughter is also confused – although she's glad she gets presents.

When shopping today for yet another toy (courtesy of a cash gift!), Marta came with us and we were able to buy her something – Isabelle later piped up from the back seat: "You bought Marta that kitchen set because she didn't get a gift from Santa, right?"

At least then I was able to talk briefly about being generous and sharing and giving, not only at this time of year, but especially.

I expect to pass through this world but once;

any good thing therefore that I can do,

or any kindness that I can show to any fellow creature,

let me do it now;

let me not defer or neglect it,

for I shall not pass this way again.

Ettiene De Grellet

When she's picked herself up off the floor from the pathos of this situation and struggled out of a swamp of self-imposed guilt, Stephanie Olsen just might re-work this piece and submit it to The Plain Truth, one of the markets in her JustMarkets December 14th newsletter.