The Spirit Of Christmas

This past year has been a hard year for our family and friends.  With the drop in the housing market our income has taken a big hit.  Friends have lost work, job opportunities for family have dried up and dreams for a better future put on hold.  To add to the pile, health concerns have hit many of us hard, reminding us of our mortality.

Yet throughout all of our individual trials and tribulations, each of us had the knowledge and security of the love and friendship of family and friends dear to us.  Their strength and encouragement carried us through these times.  So, as this Christmas Holiday comes upon us, we have thought hard the best way to repay  each and everyone back for their love and support. 

It is easy to walk into a store, pluck your money down and walk out with a purchase which just may or may not be the perfect gift.  How easy to open a catalogue, place an order and never have to leave the comfort of your couch.  But, this year is different.  This year requires something different.  It requires a gift that gives as well as honors the recipient.

This Christmas, we are making donations to a couple of worthy charities in honor of our family and friends.  We have chosen the Wounded Warrior Project and St. Jude’s Children Hospital.  They were chosen from a long list of worthy charities, and they are many.  Some, we had already donated to during the year.  How easy to give a wrapped gift and not care if they place it in a closet or re-gift it.  Your duty was done.  But to say to someone you love and care about, “You gave me a gift of yourself, now I am passing that along to others who need that very precious gift, as well. Thank you!” 

What better gift than to pass on the love and friendship you have received onto others!  What better way to say, Merry Christmas, and Happy Hanukkah.