(Columnist’s note: I’ve been a fan of the “Peanuts” comic strip for a very long time. Each Christmas season, my column is a tribute to Charlie Brown and his pals. Maybe that means you and me?)

As he wrapped presents, Charlie Brown was in deep thought. He kept coming back to the same question. He was planning to host a holiday party for his pals, and had sent out party invitations a week ago. To date, not one of his friends had replied. Why has nobody replied to his invites?

Yes, he knew the Christmas season is chaotic and stressful. But couldn’t his pals take a moment to contact him about coming to the party? He wondered why the Spirit of Christmas treated him so hurtfully. Charlie Brown loved his friends. Why do they not respond to his invitations? Good Grief, even Snoopy hadn’t replied!

Why does he have to be treated so rudely? Even though he has been called a blockhead many times this past year by his pals, he still believes in them. Charlie Brown was near tears. He just wanted his pals near him. His mind tried to focus on the positives of the season, but he kept coming back to one phrase: wouldn’t it be nice if…?

Wouldn’t it be nice if Lucy didn’t always call him a blockhead? Isn’t this time of the year when the concept of nice is to reign? Charlie Brown thought of the numerous times when he tried to be there for his friends, and in return, to have them either call him names or laugh at him. Wouldn’t it be nice to be nice all the time?

Wouldn’t it be nice if Linus actually supported him? Yes, Linus is a good friend, but during times of interaction with others, he always answers with some complex philosophical answer. Charlie Brown couldn’t understand Linus when he spoke like that. When Charlie Brown is being laughed at by the other kids, wouldn’t it be nice if Linus simply said that he deserves more respect?

Wouldn’t it be nice if Peppermint Patty would treat him as an equal on the baseball field? Charlie Brown is well aware that his team needs, well, let’s just say, improvement. Rather than playing against each other, wouldn’t it be nice if they formed one team? Peppermint Patty and Charlie Brown could be the co-managers! That would be awesome! Let’s stop competing and simply play together for the common goal of a win.

Wouldn’t it be nice if Snoopy saw him more than just a waiter who serves meals? He loved his canine friend! Please Snooty, he pleaded, play with me and give me the comfort of your presence when my pals poke fun at me.

Wouldn’t it be nice if his sister, Sally, treated him more like an older adored brother? He’s always there for his sister. Why doesn’t she have his back when others are making fun of him? Please Sally, we are family. Where are you when I need you?

Wouldn’t it be nice if the Little Red Haired girl would at least say hi to him?

While all these thoughts were floating through his mind, he finished wrapping the presents. They were all for his pals, and again, he wondered why no one had answered his invitations. It had take him over a week to accumulate and wrap all these presents, and he was proud of his accomplishment. Then, he noticed a pile of envelopes under all the presents.

He couldn’t recall placing envelopes among the presents, and he pushed away the wrapped gifts to find…!

The envelopes were the invitations he thought had been mailed a week ago. He was devastated. His planned party was a failure. Maybe he deserved to be called a blockhead, and to be the butt of all their jokes. Tears began to form in his eyes.

Just then, someone was knocking at his front door. Wiping the tears from his eyes, he slumped to the door and opened it. The sight before him completely lift him speechless.

There on his doorstep were Snoopy and all his pals singing “It’s a Holly Jolly Christmas!” to him. Their smiles filled his heart with joy as he bid them to enter carrying not only their musical notes but many Christmas presents.

They were all there — Lucy, Linus, Snoopy, Sally, Peppermint Patty, the Little Red Haired girl along with all his other pals. When their singing ended, Sally stepped forward to tell him the story of this surprise party. She had seen him complete the party invitations, and wanted to give him a special present.

Sally explained how she had hid his invitations under all the gifts, and then went to each of his pals and asked them to join her in giving Charlie Brown a never to be forgotten Christmas party! They had brought Christmas cookies, and they each had a present for him.

Charlie Brown felt his heart grow in size, the respect for his pals went to the moon and his feeling of insecurity melted away. He was loved!

As his friends laughed and began to party, Charlie Brown became aware of something he would always carry with him.

Wouldn’t it be nice if we all could understand that the holiday season is not about presents. Rather, it’s about presence.