Angels represent the true essence of Christmas. The "Littlest Angel" gave the baby Jesus his treasured boyhood posessions including his rock and butterfly. Carefully chosen gifts need not be expensive. The true spirit of Christmas comes from the giving of yourself, and your time, to others. Christmas has become too materialistic for many of us.

The Christmas I remember most was 1953, the year I turned 6. I contracted paralytic polio in September of that year, and spent Christmas, and almost all the next year in a ward full of children at a state hospital for crippled children in Pennsylvania.

We were sent boxes of Christmas toys, got a lot of cards, and were visited by clowns and Santa handing out oranges, chocolates, and candy canes. I still have a little ceramic angel I got at the hospital that year.

Hospital rules prohibited family visits except for a few hours every other Sunday afternoon. My little "teddy" became my constant companion as I missed my family, especially at Christmas.

Many happier Christmas times were to follow, and my family remains very important to me.

I do not remember when we got snow that year as I was busy in the hospital physical therapy department learning to walk again with a brace and crutches. I mastered walking and came to look forward to snow, especially during the holidays, for playing and sledding in the wintertime.

Each Christmas there was the giving and receiving of gifts, singing Christmas carols with my youth group at church, the Christmas play, as well as cookies and other goodies.

Having been denied the strength and support of my family that Christmas, I developed a strong sense of how important my family and friends are to me.

As a parent myself, I know one of the greatest things we can hope to give our children is love and respect for others--and strong family ties.

I remember the scent of bayberry candles, orange and spices, fresh pine needles and home-baked cookies. Please, remember those less fortunate than yourself this Christmas.