{"id":23085,"date":"2026-03-11T14:11:34","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T14:11:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/uncategorized\/how-her-sons-homemade-star-brought-holiday-joy-to-their-family\/"},"modified":"2026-04-10T06:15:33","modified_gmt":"2026-04-10T06:15:33","slug":"how-her-sons-homemade-star-brought-holiday-joy-to-their-family","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gpbookstore.org\/articles\/positive-living\/how-her-sons-homemade-star-brought-holiday-joy-to-their-family\/","title":{"rendered":"Her Son’s Homemade Star Brought Holiday Joy to Their Family"},"content":{"rendered":"

Grocery bags in one hand, I helped my seven-year-old son, Hudson, out of the car. It wasn\u2019t easy to hide my excitement as we walked toward the house. Hudson didn\u2019t know it, but there was a surprise waiting for us inside: a Christmas tree. A real<\/em> Christmas tree. My husband, Alan, and I had never put up a live tree in all our 14 years together.<\/p>\n

We\u2019d made careful plans the day before. Alan would sneak out to buy an evergreen and get it in its stand while Hudson and I were out. We hoped the tree might make an impression, that it might get Hudson excited for Christmas in a way that would add a whole new level of holiday joy<\/a> for us. But we could never be sure what might touch Hudson\u2019s spirit.<\/p>\n

Most kids didn\u2019t need any encouragement when it came to Christmas. But Hudson wasn\u2019t a typical child. Because of his autism, he sometimes seemed to float between two worlds, the one I lived in and the one in his head. Looking forward to future events, even Christmas, didn\u2019t come naturally to him. Neither did answering questions or interpreting words and gestures. He had his own way about him. I singled out the house key on the ring. So what if Hudson prefers the sound of crinkling wrapping paper to the gifts inside the box? But a real Christmas tree<\/a>\u2026<\/em> Before I could stop myself, I was picturing Hudson\u2019s eyes lighting up at the sight of it.<\/p>\n

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Kelly Gallagher with her husband and their son Hudson; photo courtesy Kelly Gallagher<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

I unlocked the front door and opened it wide. Alan was waiting with a camera to record Hudson\u2019s reaction to the gorgeous evergreen tree now standing in our living room. \u201cHey, buddy,\u201d Alan said. \u201cWhat do you think?\u201d<\/p>\n

Hudson looked at the tree. His eyes didn\u2019t light up. He didn\u2019t smile. He might have been looking at a new piece of furniture. \u201cTree,\u201d Hudson said simply. \u201cPine needles.\u201d All the hopes I\u2019d told myself not to have came crashing down.<\/p>\n

Alan turned off the camera. His eyes were shiny with tears. \u201cIt\u2019s okay,\u201d he told me quietly. \u201cWe\u2019ll decorate it<\/a> together. Hudson will like that.\u201d<\/p>\n

Or not,<\/em> I thought as Alan got out the ornaments. I knew it wasn\u2019t fair for me to put my expectations on my son. It was my constant prayer not to let myself do that.<\/p>\n

God had given me the perfect child, autism and all<\/a>. Hudson could never fail me. But at times like this, I feared I was failing him. I felt helpless to find something about Christmas that spoke to my son. I hooked a silver ball and handed it to him. I hung another one on the tree. Hudson stared at the blinking lights, the ornament dangling forgotten from his finger. God, bless Hudson. Help him enjoy Christmas in some way. In his own way. Even if I don\u2019t understand it.<\/em><\/p>\n

A few minutes later, Hudson was inspecting some tiny detail on an ornament I\u2019d hardly looked twice at. Alan and I hung most of the ornaments ourselves. When the tree was finished, I unplugged the lights. Then I realized we\u2019d forgotten one thing\u2014the tree topper. \u201cDo we still have that star you made last year?\u201d I asked Alan.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe jagged piece of cardboard I cut out at the last minute?\u201d He laughed. \u201cI threw it out after we took down our fake tree.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cGood. This tree calls for a proper topper. We\u2019ll buy a shiny star<\/a> this year. Or a beautiful angel.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cStar,\u201d said Hudson.<\/p>\n

Alan and I turned to him in surprise. \u201cStar on the top,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Alan and I exchanged glances. \u201cOkay, then, star it is,\u201d I said. \u201cLet\u2019s go online and pick one right now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Hudson shook his head. \u201cI want to make another star,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cDon\u2019t throw it away.\u201d Alan and I almost fell over each other, grabbing up art supplies.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat color do you want your star to be, Hudson?\u201d Alan asked. Hudson chose a yellow crayon. We watched him color intently. When he was satisfied, I cut the star out for him. Alan climbed the stepladder, affixed the star to the top of the tree<\/a> and turned on the lights.<\/p>\n

\u201cI love my star!\u201d Hudson exclaimed. I didn\u2019t need a camera to remember this moment forever.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will definitely save your star for next year,\u201d I said. \u201cOkay?\u201d Hudson didn\u2019t answer. He was looking up at the tree topper, his face split in a wide smile. The wise men<\/a> themselves couldn\u2019t have been more joyful as they gazed at the star leading the way to Bethlehem. Alan and I had our tree; Hudson had his star. God had touched each one of us in his perfect way.<\/p>\n