We are in the throws of Christmas…..the trimmings, the baking, the shopping, and most importantly, the giving. We spent our week shopping for Angels, through the Salvation Army Angels Giving Tree, and I have to say, every year that we do this there is nothing more rewarding. When I drive through our neighborhood and down the streets that are now a sea of Christmas lights I get this wonderful peaceful feeling of home….and when I pull onto our street and see all the kids from around the neighborhood playing and laughing I can hear the heartbeat of home….when I cross the threshold of our home and get pummeled by the dog and Addy screams with joy and leaps into my arms….when the smells of a home cooked dinner and sounds of chatter fill the air….I look around me and feel so completely and utterly blessed…I have to take it in, and freeze the moment and thank God for all of His blessings in my life. Then I think of families who have so much less….so much less that the only Christmas they can give to their children is through the giving of others. All of these good things in our lives should serve as gentle reminders of those that have not…we can choose to ignore this, or choose to listen and give. I think it’s so easy to get caught up in our stressful lives this time of year and forget about those in need…so, in the midst of all your Holiday stress and joy, please don’t forget about those less fortunate. You can contact your local Salvation Army to find Giving Tree’s and drop off location…..and if not an Angel, I hope you all will take time to give in some capacity.
