Christmas; the season of giving
Among other things, Christmas entails giving and receiving gifts and bits of kindness and love. Who will you give to this year? Will you give your mother a beautiful pair of earrings? Give your office mates the obligatory mug and chocolate? Maybe just send a check in the mail to the long distance cousin?
You will have that picture perfect Christmas morning where you are filled with love as you watch your family members unwrap the thoughtfully picked out gifts. You will receive that pair of shoes you have been hinting that you've been wanting for months and get so excited to wear them.
But what about those who will not be able to experience that?
Every day as I drive home form work, I pass a variation of homeless individuals who carry old worn backpacks filled with what I can assume as their only belongings. They have the same weary face day after day. Same clothes, same corner, same sign, different day. These people will not be able to partake in the same Christmas traditions that my family does. No presents under the tree or new shoes. They are deprived of the opportunity to feel the warmth when given a gift.
Does it have to be this way?
If you know me, you know I am a Christmas nut. Christmas is not a day, but a season which starts in November and lasts through January. It is a way of life and a feeling. So, why can't homeless people receive gifts? If anyone 'deserves' a gift, it is them. Sleeping under the awnings of old abandoned buildings and eating scraps from rest stop trashcans is a daily battle for these people. I wanted to spread kindness and love to the three homeless men which I see every week by giving them some hope and love. So I did research on the most needed items for homeless individuals, compiled a list and hit the stores.
My List :
soup - soap - snacks (granola, crackers, cookies) - toothpaste - toothbrush - socks (thick crew length) - tissues - baby wipes
Once I got all of the items, I packed them in a sturdy zip lock bag and they were ready to go! I put the bags in my car so I would have them when I saw one of the men in need. That day as I came home from work, I stopped at the light right next to one of the regulars. I rolled my window down and asked him if he would like the bag as it is filled with snacks, soaps, and socks. His face lit up as he nodded and said, "Yes please!". I handed him the bag and he began to turn it all around to see exactly what I had given him. He smiled so big and thanked me repeatedly. He quickly hobbled over to his worn backpack and zipped up his bag. He then turned to me and mouthed "Bless you" as I drove off.
To you, these items are taken for granted. Things you use on a daily basis and have no trouble getting when needed. To him, they were a miracle, a true gift to own and use. It may be a small gesture that cost about $5 to make, but to him, it was everything.
HE is what Christmas is about. Giving gifts of love and kindness to those who need them most. If you are able, please consider giving a gift to someone who is less likely to share this Christmas tradition. Maybe this is buying dinner for a civil servant or donating old clothing to a woman's shelter or making and giving a bag to a local homeless individual. Join me in The Giving Project to spread Christmas love by giving a priceless gift to someone in need!
