<p> THE CHRISTMAS TREE WITH LIGHTS OF HOPE</p><p>There was once a little boy named Ty, whose mom asked him to do a very important job for the family. The family needed food for their evening meal, but and his mother was sick and his father was away at work. Ty, being the oldest child, at eight years old, was the only child in the family that his mother believed could safely walk the three blocks to the neighborhood grocery store. Ty’s mom had planned to fix lasagna, but she said that she felt terrible and she needed something easy and affordable, like a frozen pizza and some fries to put in the oven. Ty’s mom called the owner of the local store and asked her to get the groceries ready so she could send her son to pick them up. His mom asked for the exact amount so she could make out the check ahead of time. She told the store clerk her son would have the check with him to pay for the groceries.</p><p>Ty’s mom asked him if he could walk down the street and around the corner to get the groceries. Ty said, “I don’t think I’m big enough, besides I want to stay home and help you put up the Christmas tree, especially the star that goes on the top. Ty’s mom told him that she wouldn’t put up the tree until she had fed her children, because that was the most important thing, and first things come first. </p><p>Ty glanced outside and noticed that it had stopped raining. He said, “Well, ok, I’ll try”. As Ty said these words, he noticed lights shining in the yard. He went to the window to look more closely and, to his amazement, lights had appeared on the bottom of last year’s Christmas tree, the one he and his dad had planted in the yard. Ty asked his mom, “How did those lights get on last year’s Christmas tree? His mom said, “What lights?” Ty pointed the lights out to her, and she smiled. All of Ty’s brothers and sisters ran to the window and clapped their hands. Ty’s mom had a big smile. She said “Wow, I guess one of our neighbors is trying to surprise us by putting lights on our tree.” His mom strained her neck, looking in all directions to see who had put the lights on the tree. She said “Well, that’s odd; I don’t see anybody out there.” Ty laughed and said, “Maybe its Christmas magic”.</p><p>Then Ty asked, “Mom, should I wear my boots or my tennis shoes to the store?” His mom told him to wear his boots to keep his feet dry as he walked through the wet puddles on the sidewalk. Ty put his boots on and his mother handed him the check and told him to put it in his pocket so he wouldn’t lose it. Ty went outside. As he walked to the end of his driveway, he began to feel a little scared. He looked both ways to see that no cars were coming before he crossed the street. When he was safely on the other side of the street he looked back at the house. His mom was standing in the doorway. She called out to him “Good job, Ty!’ Ty immediately felt more confident. As he took one last glance back at his house before starting up the sidewalk, he saw more lights begin to glow from the bottom of the Christmas tree. He wondered how in the world that had happened as he walked down the sidewalk toward the store. </p><p>As Ty came to the end of the sidewalk, he again checked the street to make sure it was clear. Just then Mrs. Jones, one of his mom’s friends, stepped out onto her porch and said “Ty, your mom called and told me to watch out for you. You’re doing a good job. If you need anything, just let me know.” Ty asked, “Do I turn toward the playground up there, or toward the big church? I’m a little scared. I don’t know if I am big enough to go to the store by myself.” Ty glanced back toward his house as he said this, and some of the lights on the tree in his yard began to dim and looked as if they were going to go off. By this time, all of his brothers and sisters had begun to stand in front of the window to watch the lights on the tree. When the light grew dim, his brothers and sisters looked at each other and began to frown, wondering why the lights were growing dim.</p><p>Mrs. Jones said, “Sweetie, go toward the playground, remember the store is right next to the playground.” Ty did remember, now that he thought about it. He, his mom, and brothers and sisters had gone into the store to get drinks and sometimes ice cream on hot summer days after they finished playing on the playground. “Oh, I remember now, thanks,” Ty said. Ty was excited. He said to himself “I can do this, the store is right by the playground, I CAN DO THIS!”</p><p>Back at home Ty’s brothers and sisters screamed with delight as more lights appeared on the tree in the yard. They yelled for their mom to come to the window and look at the beautiful lights that had been added to the tree outside. The lights were now half way up the tree! Ty’s mom wondered, “Who is putting those lights on our tree?” The whole family looked at each other, but no one had an answer. Ty’s mom smiled at her children’s delight and calmly asked them not to scream because it made her head hurt worse. The children all put their fingers to their lips and began to shush one another.</p><p>Ty continued his walk as he hummed to himself, I can do it, I can do it! He was so happy he even began to sing this as he walked, “I can do it, I can do it, I can do it.” The lights on the tree back at home were now brighter than ever. (Have the children in class sing this together, I can do it, I can do it, I can do it).</p><p>Ty walked into the store as he saw the owner, Mrs. Greene, looking out the window smiling at him. She said “Hi Ty, I’ve been watching for you since your mother called.” Ty handed her the check his mother had sent and she gave him two small bags of groceries. Mrs. Green smiled and said, “I snuck a little treat in there for you and your brothers and sisters, but don’t you be gettin’ into the bag until after you eat your supper, ok?” Ty said, “Thank you” with a big grin and enthusiasm as he glanced in the bag and saw his favorite chocolate chip cookies. Ty walked out of the store and headed back down the sidewalk passed the playground. As he passed the playground he began to wonder if he would get the turn right on the way home. He again began to feel afraid. He could see the end of the block just ahead. He thought to himself, I don’t know if I can get home now. What if I don’t turn at the right place? I’m too young to do this. He even said aloud, “I shouldn’t have told mom that I would do this.”</p><p>Back at home his brothers and sisters noticed the lights on the tree begin to dim. They looked as if they were going out. His brothers and sisters frowned and asked their mom why the lights were going out. When Ty got to the end of the block he looked straight ahead at the big church. His stomach began to feel queasy. He knew he didn’t live on the street with the big church. He looked down to his left and saw the big red van that his neighbor usually parks on the street near his house. Then he saw the swing set in his neighbor’s yard and his friend’s purple bike lying on the ground near his yard. He smiled and let out a deep breath. He said out loud “Whew, I know the way, I’m pretty sure I do.” He turned down his street with confidence and began walking toward his home. Now he felt pretty good. He was smiling.</p><p>He began to sing to himself again, “I can do it, I can do it, I can do it. (Have the students sing the song again with Ty as he walks down the sidewalk). As he approached his house, he couldn’t believe his eyes. Last year’s Christmas tree was completely aglow with lights and as he sang “I can do it” a bright golden star appeared atop the tree. Ty took off running, as he ran toward his house, his brothers and sisters burst out the front door jumping up and down and screaming, “Look at the Christmas tree, look at the Christmas tree”. Ty smiled and checked both ways before crossing the street. Then he ran up to his front porch. His youngest brother asked him if he knew who put the lights on the tree. Ty said, “I’ve got a funny feeling that, even though I was gone, I did get to help decorate a Christmas tree, and I even helped put a star on top!” </p><p>DISCUSS WITH STUDENTS HOW THE LIGHTS ON THE X-MAS TREE REPRESENTED THE HOPE THAT TY HAD INSIDE HIMSELF.</p><p>DISCUSS HOW IF WE BELIEVE AND HAVE HOPE WE WILL KEEP TRYING, AND WE ARE MORE LIKELY TO SUCCEED.</p><p>TALK ABOUT SELF-TALK AND THE ROLE IT PLAYS IN OUR LIVES (how much effort we put into school work, how confident we are at sports, and how we interact with friends and others in our world).</p><p>PASS THE CHRISTMAS TREE COLORING SHEET OUT, AND SHOW STUDENTS HOW TO ADD LIGHTS OF HOPE TO THE TREE.</p><p>DISCUSS HOW THE TREE LIGHTS REPRESENT THE HOPE THAT LIVES IN US, AND HOW WE CAN GROW OR LESSEN OUR LIGHTS OF HOPE DEPENDING UPON OUR SELF-TALK.</p>