All About Gifts

I've been obsessed with listening to the Holiday Pop station on MSN radio. No, it's not all about Britney Spears and Destiny's Child belting out their own versions of Silent Night. The station has a wide range of music, from pop to vocal to r&b to rock to country to traditional. They are also good about not playing the same song in the same sitting.

Anyhow, this song called "Christmas Shoes" by NewSong came on and the lyrics made me smile. It reminded me of a situation I came across when I used to work as a sales associate at a women's department store back in high school. It was December and our store was always busy due to the Christmas rush. While I was managing the fitting rooms, a mother and her 3-year old daughter came in to try on some shoes.

Mother: "These shoes don't fit right. And these are nice, but they are too expensive."

Daughter: "Why do you need to get new shoes, Mommy?"

"Because my shoes are old and starting to get holes in them. I like these shoes but I don't think I will get them. They're too expensive."

"Mommy, my shoes are new! I like my shoes."

"Yes, dear. I am glad you like them."

After a pause, the three-year-old says, "Mommy. You don't have to spend money! You can have my new shoes."

I thought that was the cutest thing in the world. The girl was so young and only spoke simple english. My heart simply melted.

Anyhow, here are the lyrics to "Christmas Shoes":

***************************************************************
Newsong 
The Christmas Shoes

It was almost Christmas time, there I stood in another line
Tryin' to buy that last gift or two, not really in the Christmas mood
Standing right in front of me was a little boy waiting anxiously
Pacing 'round like little boys do
And in his hands he held a pair of shoes

His clothes were worn and old, he was dirty from head to toe
And when it came his time to pay
I couldn't believe what I heard him say

Chorus:
Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

He counted pennies for what seemed like years
Then the cashier said, "Son, there's not enough here"
He searched his pockets frantically
Then he turned and he looked at me
He said Mama made Christmas good at our house
Though most years she just did without
Tell me Sir, what am I going to do,
Somehow I've got to buy her these Christmas shoes

So I laid the money down, I just had to help him out
I'll never forget the look on his face when he said
Mama's gonna look so great

Sir, I want to buy these shoes for my Mama, please
It's Christmas Eve and these shoes are just her size
Could you hurry, sir, Daddy says there's not much time
You see she's been sick for quite a while
And I know these shoes would make her smile
And I want her to look beautiful if Mama meets Jesus tonight

Bridge:
I knew I'd caught a glimpse of heaven's love
As he thanked me and ran out
I knew that God had sent that little boy
To remind me just what Christmas is all about
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I love Christmas songs. I just get really nostalgic and a little sad. I can't wait for the Christmas festivities. Yay!