Christmas Bears

In the forest Christmas is a very exciting time. All of the animals gather together to celebrate the very special day, all but one bear that is.

"Mom, what is Christmas" the little bear asked one December morning as his mom was hurriedly storing food for the winter hibernation. "Why, Christmas is the birthday of Jesus, it is an extra special day, why do you ask dear?"

The little bear suddenly felt as though he would be missing something, he wanted to celebrate the holiday like the other animals in the forest. He looked outside the window to see all of his playmates decorating and having so much fun. Jerry, his mouse friend was stringing beads in the trees, Sammy the squirrel was decorating a small bush nearby and they all looked like they were having so much fun.

L.B. felt very sad as he watched all of his friends playing and having so much fun outside in the snow covered forest. His mom just kept packing and getting ready for their winter hibernation. "Hurry JB, we need to pack our things and be ready, the hard freeze is coming and we are nearly ready."

The little bear just could not bring himself away from the window; he was just fascinated to see all of this activity. He also saw a large sign that read " CHRISTMAS PARTY AT 6:00 PM TONIGHT EVERYONE WELCOME". Well, the wheels were turning for the little cub; he wanted so badly to experience some of the magic of Christmas before going into hibernation for several months.

"Mom, I have an idea," he said hastily. LB just knew his mom would say no but he thought it was worth a try to ask her. "What is it dear?" There is a Christmas party in the forest tonight, can we go, can we?" His mom just stood staring at the bear wondering why he so wanted to go to this party. She hesitated with her answer then replied, "Sure LB, just keep packing between now and then and you can go to the party, you have been a good bear all year so this is the least I can do."

The bear just jumped up and down, he went to the window and yelled out to all of his friends that he will be at the party tonight. The bear packed his winter goods for the rest of the afternoon until time to get ready for the party. He had never been to a party, and this one was extra special since it was a "Christmas party." LB suddenly remembered that he needed to bring a gift to this party, "Oh no I don't have a gift for anyone," he exclaimed.

His mother heard LB and with a sad look told him that there was not much time to get a gift and he would just have to go to the party without a gift. LB's mother knew this did not please the little bear, he so wanted to fit in and be liked and this would not be a good thing to come empty handed.

"I have one idea," his mother said. "Do you see that box in the corner with the big bow on top?" The little bear knew that box was for him for some time now and it took everything he had not to peek into it, "Yes Mom I see it." The little bear had a feeling of what his mother would say but he listened anxiously anyway.

"That was a gift to you from your father and I, do you want to bring it to the party, it is not much but it is better to give than to receive LB and your friends who are less fortunate could really use what is in that box. The little bear thought about it and then remembered how a lot of the forest friends told him that they envied him for having two parents who loved him as many of them were orphans, they also envied him for having a warm place to sleep in the winter time. "Ok mom, I will bring that gift to the party tonight, thank you for loving me and being my Mom" The bear hugged his mom as a small tear came to her eye "I love you too son."

The bear got ready and went to the party excited as can be. He put his wrapped box under a small decorated tree with several other small gifts from various forest friends. The animals sang, danced and enjoyed the Christmas air in the forest. The small lights glistened against the fresh snow and the air was much colder than they expected. "Its gift time", exclaimed Sammy the squirrel. The animals all exchanged gifts and opened the gifts with much anticipation. LB's gift was opened by another small bear named Bobby. Bobby lost his mom last year and now just lives with his father. He always looks very sad and does not have his mom to help him pack for the winter hibernation. He opened the gift and exclaimed, "A scarf", he was so happy to receive this gift, as he did not have a scarf to keep warm in the winter. "Oh thank you LB, this is just what I needed, how did you know?"

LB felt so glad that he was able to help one of the other animals and it didn't matter that he would not be receiving a gift on Christmas morning, he already received his gift.
by Jackie Sagner