Most people are familiar with nutcrackers and know they are generally associated with the Christmas season. I have always liked them and the year before COVID hit I decided to add a couple to one particular display. I finally found two of the right height, about five inches, at Dollorama. So I picked up two with different coloured hats and put them in my cart – without really inspecting them.
When I got home, I removed them from the bag and laid them on the end table until it was time to start decorating – again, without inspecting them or noticing anything was amiss.
Soon it was time to start decorating. When the time came to put the nutcrackers in their designated places, I picked them up and… that’s when I noticed they were both damaged. One was missing his right hand and the other his left arm.
They were supposed to stand on each side of a lantern that had a Santa inside and lights up like a snow globe. I couldn’t put damaged ornaments beside a perfectly good one… could I? I was ready to toss them aside and felt like kicking myself for not inspecting them at the store.
Now I would have to find something else to complete that particular display. I dislike shopping at any time of year… I like to get in and out, find what I need and no time wasted. Could I borrow something from another display? Nothing came to mind.
As I stood there looking at them, a thought came to me that what I had were “disabled” Nutcrackers, much like disabled veterans. I wouldn’t turn away a disabled person, veteran or other. Why, then, should I cast aside disabled nutcrackers? It wasn’t their fault I had neglected to look them over when I picked them up.
None of us are perfect and so I chose to display two disabled and imperfect nutcrackers among my Christmas displays. I placed them both in their intended positions, one on each side of the lantern.
Three years later, the disabled Nutcrackers are still prominently on display. Now they are a reminder of all who fought – and continue to fight – for freedom and justice.
