
The White Envelope
The White Envelope is a touching story about how a new family Christmas tradition began. In 2016 this post literally went viral and broke our website.
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The White Envelope is brilliant! I think we will be adopting this tradition.
Christmas Story:
For the Man Who Hated Christmas
By Nancy W. Gavin
It’s just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years.
It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas. Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it—overspending and the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma—the gifts given in desperation because you couldn’t think of anything else.
Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.
Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was on the wrestling team at the school he attended. Shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes.
As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler’s ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford.
Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, “I wish just one of them could have won,” he said. “They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them.” Mike loved kids—all kids. He so enjoyed coaching little league football, baseball, and lacrosse. That’s when the idea for his present came.
That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes, and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed a small, white envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done, and that this was his gift from me.
Mike’s smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year. And that same bright smile lit up succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition—one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.
The white envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning, and our children—ignoring their new toys—would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the small, white envelope never lost its allure.
The story doesn’t end there. You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree. And the next morning, I found it was magically joined by three more. Unbeknownst to the others, each of our three children had for the first time placed a white envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing to take down that special envelope.
Mike’s spirit, like the Christmas spirit will always be with us.
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34 Comments
Linda
That is the true meaning of Christmas and truly shows the spirit of the Christmas season. So, yes, it is a tradition we should ask adopt readily and happily!
Two Southern Sweeties
Amen, Linda!
Carol
Brought tears to my eyes.
Two Southern Sweeties
It brought tears to mine as well the first time I read it. It touched me and I wanted all of you to be touched as well.
Fay Dungar
Beautiful Story
Marie
Mine too are leaking! Beautiful!
Lillian Reeves
This was so sweet , I think everyone should do this! ❤️
Two Southern Sweeties
I have to agree Lillian. Just imagine all the good that would be done if everyone carried through this tradition with their families and passed it on to their children.
Missy
What a fantastic idea. I will do this for my family and yours. What a wonderful idea. Thank you for your inspiration.
Two Southern Sweeties
Thank you Missy. I hope you will pass this story on to others either by word of mouth or social media so that we are able to get others to join in with us on this wonderful tradition. Make it a great day!
Mary Gossett
A wonderful story…..the older I get, the more I want to make Christmas more than just commercial, and more from the heart…. Thank you for sharing…..
Two Southern Sweeties
I completely agree Mary. Not only for myself but for my children and grandchildren as well.
Make it a great day!
Tracey
Bonnie Huilton
Absolutely love as i sit in a puddle of tears!!!!
Two Southern Sweeties
I completely understand, I do hope they are happy tears.
Make it a great day!
Tracey
Patty
What a wonderful tradition!
Two Southern Sweeties
I think so as well, Patty.
Make it a great day!
Tracey
Pat
What a beautiful tradition to adopt and carry forward through the years. So many could use our help. Let’s give it and watch that idea grow
Two Southern Sweeties
I agree Pat. The world can be a better place, it just starts with one person and grows from there!
Make it a great day
Tracey
anne
AWESOME , what a treasure you created and are passing along !! It’s truly magical , thank you for sharing and ????
Two Southern Sweeties
You’re welcome Anne. Please share this to help pass it along.
anne
have shared on Facebook, but trying to find a way to share on Instagram too …????
anne
Have shared on Facebook , trying to post on instgram but not having much luck , can you ??
anne
Have shared on Facebook , trying to post on instgram but not having much luck , can you ??pp
Two Southern Sweeties
I will see what I can do to post it to Instagram. There should be links at the bottom of the post that will allow you to share it to Facebook, Pinterest, Google, Tumblr, Linkedin, Reddit and Pocket. There is also the option below the post to email this or any other post to your friends and family. I do truly appreciate your effort to get this out there as well as the effort of everyone else.
Make it a great day!
Tracey
Agnes
Brought tears to my eyes. Thanks for sharing a very wonderful tradition.
Two Southern Sweeties
You are very welcome Agnes. I feel it is important to share and carry on traditions that help our society, especially the children, to see what this holiday is really about. I hope you too will pass this to everyone you know. One person with one kind act can change the world.
Make it a great day!
Tracey
JEFF TAYLOR
What a wonderful idea! If every family would adopt one or two charities and give generously, imagine what good could be done. Thanks for sharing it
Two Southern Sweeties
I agree Jeff. We change the world one person and one good deed at a time.
Make it a great day!
Tracey
Ren
This was absolutely beautiful. I have to keep using the backspace because of the tears in my eyes.
Victoria Kemner
Dear Nancy, I will treasure your Story! My prayer is that we wont loose the ” Sprit of Christmas”, for truly this year we all have lost love ones, we cry out in agony and tear of JOY fill me with your TRUE LOVE story. I must take a second to relate that Jesus Christ my Lord gave the ultimate give of His Life. Very few humans can relate to this. As a resident of Sevier County and the massive destruction of the Great Smoky Mountains , Gatlinburg, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, I know our God is alive. He touched US, He sent angels to rescue the lives of many residents. The loss of 13 people in the fire hurts and pains residents. Yet we will rebuild, go on and get stronger. Thanks for all your prayers and help from Sea to Shing Sea…from the Mountains to the Praries… Merry Christmas to All, Love Victoria
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Elaine Mair
I love this idea. Brought tears to my eyes . I may do this too.
Joyce
What a wonderful idea. Thank you for sharing it!
Two Southern Sweeties
Thank you Joyce! We absolutely love this story and this tradition.
~Tracey