Merry Christmas?
Well, the holidays are upon us again. Christmas is supposed to be a time of giving, kindness, joy, and love for others. Sometimes it is and sometimes it isn't.
I ask you, at this wonderful, magical time of year, is it really neccessary to try and race me to the door of the store, nearly knocking me down, so that you can enter before I do? Is it too much to ask for you to simply return the smile that I have given you? How is it "Christmas-y" to trample people and begin slugging one another at the "day after Thanksgiving" sales?
A couple of days ago, I hurried to the grocery store for a few items. After pulling into the parking spot, I realized that a car had been coming down the isle for the very spot I parked in. Oh my gosh! I stole that lady's spot! I hurried out of my car, so that I could enter the store the same time she did, so I could apologize and tell her that I didn't realize she was going for that spot. She wasn't angry, but she was in a hurry. She told me that it was "ok", but I felt horrible! Why doesn't anyone else seem to feel horrible about behaving badly at this time of year?
I guess it really is better to give than to receive. I will continue to to be kind, to smile, to hold the door for people, to apologize if I have stolen someone's parking spot, whether it is appreciated or not. True joy comes from within. Joy is a gift from God for doing what He has asked us to do.
In this day in time, our lives are designed to be overly busy, over scheduled, and always in a hurry. Our focus is moslty on what we have to get done today for our jobs and our families. There are people who donate their time to feed the homeless, donate toys for needy children, and money to various charities and none of that is small. However, I am going to try and focus on small things. You never know how much impact a small gesture can make. Your smile may be the only nice thing that happens to someone today. Holding the door for an older person may give them new hope in the younger generation.
No matter how busy we are, I hope we will all take a little time to focus on small kindnesses and make each day a little merrier for someone else who may need it.