The Magical Toilet Paper Box
Created by Tomas Rodriguez
Image generated by staff
This story is for those who might be struggling this Christmas season. Stay strong and never look back. There is always somebody worse off than you. You might think you have it bad, but trust me—there is always someone doing worse.
Making Christmas Out of Nothing
This Christmas there was no tree, and there were no presents. But that didn’t stop the holiday spirit from moving forward.
I saw people make a tree from toilet paper and cardboard boxes. They built ornaments of all kinds and decorated this cardboard box to look like a real Christmas tree.
They made snowflakes out of paper and taped them in the windows. They even shaped a statue of Mr. and Mrs. Claus out of bars of soap. The people were filled with Christmas spirit, making something out of nothing.
A Place Transformed
They created Christmas in a dark, ordinary place where the spirit of the holiday often doesn’t exist. And yet, through their creativity, it became a place alive with distant memories.
I call them distant memories because when I looked at that cardboard box—once used to carry rolls of toilet paper, but now transformed into a Christmas tree—I thought of home. I thought of how my mom always made sure we kids were happy and full of smiles.
For a brief moment, I was a child again—waiting to open my presents on Christmas morning, sneaking around the house to see what gifts I might find.
The Gift of Memory
All of this came rushing back as I gazed at that decorated cardboard box, dressed up like a Christmas tree, with homemade presents resting beneath it.
I wish everyone a Merry Christmas, and I want to remind you that sometimes you have to look within to truly find joy. It’s not about what we have or don’t have, but about the beautiful memories we can create—even from something as simple as a cardboard box made to look like a Christmas tree.
A Blessing
May God bless the person who wanted to spread Christmas cheer.
(artwork is AI generated)
(artwork is AI generated)
About the Artist
Tomas Rodriguez
Tomás A. Rodriguez CDCR #: K69035 Incarcerated @ Valley State Prison Age: 48 Favorite football team: San Fransisco Forty Niners Favorite baseball team: San Fransisco Giants Associates Degree in Communications Studies Athletic, Softball, Handball Mexican/ American Very Intellectual, Optimistic, Open Minded, Christian, Positive, 28 years of sobriety/ 28 years of incarceration.....