One year, when I was young, I made a star out of cardboard, aluminum foil, Christmas bows, white plastic forks, and painted toothpicks. It was a sight to behold. Never one for subtle colors, I used pink and orange toothpicks and stuck green and red bows all over it. It was the tackiest thing on the planet, but I was very proud of it. I dragged a dining room chair next to the tree and stood on it trying to put my star on the top of the tree.
I nearly tipped the tree over and I ended up breaking a few ornaments. My parents yelled at me, and then felt so guilty when I tearfully told them that it was a birthday present for baby Jesus, that they put my star on top of the tree. So deep was their guilt, that for several years they proudly displayed my ugly star on the top of the tree, until one year my mother accidentally (or so she claims) sat on it.
Since my days as a gifted, tree-top, decoration-maker, it has always been a holiday tradition for me to make some of the Christmas gifts that I give. For me, it just isn’t Christmas unless I have burnt myself with a soldering iron, stepped on a sewing needle, cut myself with glass, or super-glued some fingers together.
I don’t think I’ve ever made a better gift, one more special, than that star inspired by the love in a little girl’s heart. However, in a time when it feels like Christmas is so commercial, making gifts brings back that special feeling I had as a young girl when I was so proud of a tacky, homemade star.
The GovGab bloggers from USA.gov wish you the very best this holiday season and may you all be so blessed to receive a homemade gift this year.