Every year, about three weeks before Christmas, we always set aside one day to get our tree. My husband learned many years earlier that it usually takes a full day for everyone to agree on what tree will be the best for our house. We were running true to form as we pulled into the fourth tree lot of the day. This one showed some promise as I immediately noticed several large, full ones. The lot was huge, with trees lined up as far as the eye could see.

We walked the rows, with my husband pulling out one tree after another. We had come to the end of one row when I noticed the trees were getting smaller. I waved to my children who had run on ahead of us. The rest of the trees were too small and scrawny. I thought how sad it was to chop down all these trees when most likely they would not be bought by anyone.

"Mom," my son called out, "look at this tree."

I was worn out from trudging around the lots and my patience was wearing thin, but I was curious to see what they had found. As I approached, I saw them holding a tiny, scrawny little tree. It couldn't have had more than a handful of branches on it.

"Mom, can we have this one for our room? Look, it's just my size."

I couldn't help but smile as my son proudly held the tree up next to him. Indeed, they were the same size.

"Honey, it doesn't have alot of branches. You won't be able to put many decorations on it," I said.

"Please, Mama," he pleaded, "no one else'll buy it."

I felt a touch of pride at my son's concern. His eyes beamed and a smile spread from ear to ear. Such was his thoughtfulness. The little tree wasn't much to look at, but to him, it was beautiful. He'd found a lonely tree that needed a home and understood that he could give this gift.

A wonderful thing happened that cold December afternoon. I not only saw my little boy standing there, I also saw a caring human being with a heart of gold. A mirror of the man he might one day become. And silently, I thanked him. He'd reminded me to appreciate the things that really mattered in life. To care for everyone and everything.

This year, we ended up with two trees at Christmas, two very happy little boys and a mother who'd been given a gift far greater than anything found under a tree. The gift of love. If we want to know the real meaning of life, we need only to look in the eyes of the children.