When I was a kid, Christmas was always a special time for our family. We didn’t have much money after we relocated to the United States from Vietnam, but my parents always found ways to help us appreciate the holidays.

I remember having this silver Christmas tree given to us by a family at our church. By anyone standards, it was probably the ugliest, most awkward representation of a Christmas tree known to man. The poor thing was bent and several of the sharp, spoke-like “branches” that you insert into the frame were missing. But to me, this tree was amazing. First, it was the first Christmas tree our family ever had. Second, it represented the happiness I experienced with my family during the holidays. All of our relatives were either in Vietnam or France. Therefore, Christmas consisted of only my parents, my two older brothers and me. Somehow, that was always enough.

One of the reasons I feel so strongly about giving back to those less fortunate is because my family, at one time, was less fortunate. When we came to the U.S., my parents left a privileged life style in Vietnam where my dad was a dentist with his own clinic and my mom worked for the U.S. embassy. After the Vietnam War (which, ironically is called the American War in Vietnam), my parents gave up a lot to start anew with their three young kids. Indeed, Christmas was new to all of us.

I remember one of the earlier Christmases we experienced when we arrived in this country. Several families at my dad’s work sponsored my family for the holidays. I remember having our family show up to see all these people with big smiles on their faces and not exactly knowing why they looked so happy. I glanced over at a nearby Christmas tree and was completely amazed at all the presents that were under the tree. I was even more shocked to find out that all those presents were for my family. I was five or six at the time and apparently had no social etiquette. I ran over to the tree and immediately started sorting out my presents from the others. I still remember some of those presents yet today.

Christmas is truly a time about giving and remembering the real reason for the season. Now that I have my own family, I enjoy Christmas even more. But its no longer about presents for me. Nor is it about lights or even the food (okay, let’s not get carried away, shall we? Food was and still is a BIG part of my holidays…)

For me, Christmas is about faith, family, and enjoying old memories as well as making new ones. Our Christmas tree today is beautiful, with lights, ribbons, and silver and gold glass ornaments. But to be honest, the tree today is no more beautiful to me than that silver tree long ago…