Christmas is for Kids

I’m a big fan of Christmas.  I love all the lights and decorations, the holiday music, putting up a tree, wrapping up presents, going to holiday get-togethers, and eating way too many Christmas cookies.  It makes me happy, brings a smile to my face, and puts a little joy in my heart.

But what it doesn’t do is stress me out over holiday shopping!  Let’s be honest here – I love to shop any time of the year.  It doesn’t bother me to go to the mall, to find a cute little boutique, or to hunt down a charming locally owned shop.  It’s fun for me.  As is picking out the perfect gift for someone.

This process has led me to realize that there isn’t a whole lot that I need at Christmas time – at least in the way of presents.  I’m blessed to be gainfully employed in a job that I enjoy and to be earning money blogging about travel (my passion).  I have a roof over my head, clothes on my back, and food on the table.  I have everything that I need, and most of what I want.  In fact, I really have too much stuff, and am concentrating more on the intangible riches of life – relationships, experiences, and enjoyment.

After purchasing a few gifts, and I mean a very few, I focused my energy and funds on adopting a family that is facing some challenges this Christmas time.  The family is an older single mom with a five year old little boy with special needs.  This is a family who has challenges every time of the year, and it just shouldn’t be that way at Christmas.  Because Christmas is for kids.  And that dear, sweet little boy, who faces challenges and complications every day of his life, should wake up on Christmas morning and be able to forget about all of that – even if it’s just for one day.  He should find presents beneath his tree and have a Christmas dinner with all the trimmings.  And mom, who gives everything to make life better for that little boy, should have some things to make her life easier, too.  A few things for around the house, and maybe a special, pretty something that’s all for her.

Today I went shopping for my special adopted family, working from a list that United Way (the agency who matched up the adoption) filled out for them.  The list divided up the urgent needs and special wants for each person.  Just reading the list made me get all weepy.  These requests were so incredibly modest – a shower curtain, socks and underwear, and a hair cut.  United Way asks that we get at least one gift for each person, along with providing a holiday meal.  One gift just didn’t seem right –- and no one’s Christmas present should just be a shower curtain.

So I went a little crazy.  And a bought bunches of stuff.  I was like a kid in a candy shop, picking out all the urgent needs, and lots of the special wants as well.  I can’t change this family’s circumstances, that is far beyond my ability.  But I want this family, so rich in love, to have some tangible riches as well.  That I have the ability to do.

If you are blessed this holiday season, give your local United Way a call and ask if they have any more families that need adopting for Christmas.  The list is long, the need is high, and chances are there’s a family that could use a little helping hand.  Even at this late date, there is a family waiting. . . and hoping.  Do it because it feels good.  Do it because you don’t need any more stuff.  Do it because you’re giving back or paying it forward.  Do it because Christmas is for kids.  And everyone should get to be a kid at Christmas.

Photo credit: SXC