Today at our department holiday lunch, I was talking about yesterday’s homily at church regarding preparing yourself for Christmas. Some of the ideas shared at church were to reach out to people in need. Maybe it was just a phone call or maybe a meal but to try and see a need and fill it. It doesn’t take much to change someone’s day.

I’m always impressed with the generous spirit of my friends. My friend Mary makes centerpieces for a retirement home that get more and more elaborate each year. She makes 40 or 50 of them while working 50+ hours most weeks. It’s not small feat get them done by herself, yet she never disappoints the residents.  And it’s not just the creating but the purchasing of all the things that make up the piece. It’s quite a commitment.

I see the kindness of people giving to other families via the Angel Tree program at our church. The number of bikes and other large gifts is truly a sight to see. I see other friends collecting food and other items for families, vets and the homeless. It really is a wonderful time of giving and caring.

And then there are those people out there that stun you with their actions. The ones you hear who rob the Salvation Army kettles or steal from Toys for Tots collection locations. Just this past weekend a friend and her Girl Scout troop went “Caroling for Cans” in her neighborhood. The went door to door singing and collecting food. She said half the food they received was expired and one item, actually expired in 2000 – before the girls collecting the food were even born. Come on! Don’t open the door or say you have nothing to offer but don’t dump that stuff on them. When Kathryn was part of that troop, we went caroling one year and a few of the people that came out tried to give us money – anything to get us off the porch! I’m not sure caroling is a tradition everywhere around the world. 

One of my all-time favorite Christmas songs is “O Come, O Come Emmanuel.”  Love this music-only version in particular. O come and join the generosity of the season – big or small –join the spirit and make someone’s day.