A WRITER'S LIFE…
December, 2004
My husband passed away from an aneurism in April 2004. I did not blog for seven months. This is the first after.
The Season of Giving Is Upon Us.
It's that time of year when we break out the lights, the bows, the mistletoe and for some, the fake tree that has been in the family for years. The Holiday season is upon us, and if your neighborhood is anything like mine, Christmas lights are twinkling around windows every night.
I've yet to go into my storage room and retrieve all the visuals that says Santa is on his way. I'm still recovering from a wonderful Thanksgiving as I write this, so I will need a few more weeks to get on to the next major holiday.
Still, the reason behind the season is often forgotten. We get caught up in getting the perfect gifts, making sure Aunt Sally can be picked up from the airport on time and that we have everything we need for the perfect holiday meal.
Last year I asked and this year I am doing it again. As we wind down towards the New Year, take to time to see the real reason behind this season. This is the time to show your love and concern for your fellow human kind. It's the time of year to forgo what's going on in your own backyard and place your gaze a little further. It's the time to look around you and see if there is a need you can possibly fill. Sometimes it just giving up a little bit of your time to help a stranger.
I always make a concerted effort to gather up all the old clothes and shoes my family has outgrown and take it down to the homeless center. When I'm shopping at my local supermarket, I'm on the lookout for food collection boxes and organizations that are collecting money for the needy. Where I live I can add as much or as little as I want to my grocery bill and it goes directly to the charity.
We often think: What can I do? In a time consuming world where there's just enough time to go to work, come home, prepare a meal and get ready for the next day, it's easy to say: I don't have time. I ask that this year, make the time. Find an hour, fifteen minutes, whatever it takes to make a difference in somebody's life.
If you have books you no longer plan to read and don't mind parting with, how about donating them to a homeless center? Same thing for clothes you no longer wear. If you know that a church is collecting can goods, peruse your cabinets for those items you won't miss and drop them off. Drop those quarters into the Salvation Army bucket. Volunteer some time if you have it to give. Start your own collection effort at your job or your church if there isn't one going on. There is always something we can do.
As we begin the made holiday rush, I ask that you don't forget the real reason behind the season. It is about giving. 'Tis better to give then receive' should be our mantra as we head towards 2005. We can touch lives, every single one of us. Let's find the time and do our part.
Until next time, may your life be filled with love, light, and understanding. Until next time,
Peace and Blessings,
Margaret
It's that time of year when we break out the lights, the bows, the mistletoe and for some, the fake tree that has been in the family for years. The Holiday season is upon us, and if your neighborhood is anything like mine, Christmas lights are twinkling around windows every night.
I've yet to go into my storage room and retrieve all the visuals that says Santa is on his way. I'm still recovering from a wonderful Thanksgiving as I write this, so I will need a few more weeks to get on to the next major holiday.
Still, the reason behind the season is often forgotten. We get caught up in getting the perfect gifts, making sure Aunt Sally can be picked up from the airport on time and that we have everything we need for the perfect holiday meal.
Last year I asked and this year I am doing it again. As we wind down towards the New Year, take to time to see the real reason behind this season. This is the time to show your love and concern for your fellow human kind. It's the time of year to forgo what's going on in your own backyard and place your gaze a little further. It's the time to look around you and see if there is a need you can possibly fill. Sometimes it just giving up a little bit of your time to help a stranger.
I always make a concerted effort to gather up all the old clothes and shoes my family has outgrown and take it down to the homeless center. When I'm shopping at my local supermarket, I'm on the lookout for food collection boxes and organizations that are collecting money for the needy. Where I live I can add as much or as little as I want to my grocery bill and it goes directly to the charity.
We often think: What can I do? In a time consuming world where there's just enough time to go to work, come home, prepare a meal and get ready for the next day, it's easy to say: I don't have time. I ask that this year, make the time. Find an hour, fifteen minutes, whatever it takes to make a difference in somebody's life.
If you have books you no longer plan to read and don't mind parting with, how about donating them to a homeless center? Same thing for clothes you no longer wear. If you know that a church is collecting can goods, peruse your cabinets for those items you won't miss and drop them off. Drop those quarters into the Salvation Army bucket. Volunteer some time if you have it to give. Start your own collection effort at your job or your church if there isn't one going on. There is always something we can do.
As we begin the made holiday rush, I ask that you don't forget the real reason behind the season. It is about giving. 'Tis better to give then receive' should be our mantra as we head towards 2005. We can touch lives, every single one of us. Let's find the time and do our part.
Until next time, may your life be filled with love, light, and understanding. Until next time,
Peace and Blessings,
Margaret