Doc Hageman

Last weekend we went to pick up our Christmas Tree. We heard about this place a few miles away that let you cut your own trees, also we were told that all the proceeds from the tree sales went to Children's Hospital. So the four of us packed up on Saturday morning, and left Saturday afternoon, just kidding getting ready to go with a 3 year old and a 10 month old usually takes longer than the outing itself. But we had set aside the whole day for this and we would not be deterred. The sign for this tree farm is about the size of a sheet of paper so we didn't spot it until the third pass, and after much debate among the adults, decided on which driveway to turn into. As we came to a stop out from behind a greenhouse, with a seasoned gait, comes a gentleman who says "Welcome, please walk around and take your pick, and remember that every dollar goes to Children's Hospital." I knew that was the case before we went but it was just cool to see this 92 year old man doing the best that he can to make the world a better place. I started thinking more about this in light of the Christmas season and realized that Doc is the embodiment of the Christmas Spirit. In his effort to do all that he could to provide for the least of these, Doc fulfilled what Jesus has asked of each one of us. The true spirit of Christmas is found in the giving of ourselves for the benefit of others. In His incarnation Jesus gave all that He could in order that we might live. God loves to give gifts, and in the giving of His Son He gave the greatest gift of all. I took a lesson from Doc Hageman, the Christmas Spirit is found in giving the best of myself for the love of others. He lives this out with his tree farm. God calls us to live this out in our lives.