I try to get gifts for others that mean something special. You know, say at a Birthday I can get some silly little things, and then one big thing.
For holidays my husband and I have always done something called the Salvation Army Angel Tree. It's for selfish reasons really. We don't have children and I wanted to much to make a child feel like they were the most important person in the world on Christmas, so we would pick an angel and buy everything on their list! I like to think they got that feeling, of being special.
We then started making purchases for the elderly. We had a program here by meals on wheels where you would buy a small list of items and it would be delivered with that seniors meal. I felt like they had done their time, they too deserve to feel as special as can be at least one day a year.
I made that first call to my sister 3 months before her Birthday. This was the first time I would be able to send her a gift and I knew right away what it would be. We had been to visit her a few weeks before her birthday and she showed me a huge baggie filled with film that needed to be developed.
I knew then, I would send her a digital camera. Well, it went over as a selfish gift. I think there were thoughts that I sent it in order for her to be able to send me photos on email. Truth is, I had the photos that I wanted, the photos of Dottye. I just had hoped to save her time and money by giving her the digital camera. I think she enjoyed it anyway.
In looking for unique gifts a couple of years ago I came across The Warm Place and I knew right away that this would be my special gift to my sister. I actually cried as I wrote the donation check to them that year. Cried for my sister, cried for our mother, and cried for the answers we would never get.
"Will you be missing a loved one this holiday season?
Her mother died suddenly and too soon. One out of 20 children will experience the death of a parent before they graduate from high school. When you make your holiday gift list this year, please consider a donation to The Warm Place in honor of those special people in your life. Your family and friends will receive a beautiful holiday, foil stamped card to acknowledge your gift in their honor. The best part is that your gift will continue to support a child every time he or she is helped to overcome the heartbreak of having a loved one die."
When I found this local home, a place for children and loved ones to gather to speak and spend time together, I knew this was the group that I needed to send my donation to. I could imagine my sister, on the swing set as a less then sensitive family member told her that her mother was gone now and there was no good reason to cry because it wouldn't change anything. How I wish my sister had someplace like the warming place to go to.
This year, Shannon will be a Santa's helper and call children as Santa and go over their list with them. He's got the laugh, he's got the heart. When I asked him if he would do it he said yes without missing a beat.
I think it is important to be kind, just because we can be.
It's good to give, even if it's tight, give.
I don't mind showing kindness to those who don't have it in them to show it back.
Sometimes it's just good to remember that we all deserve to be loved and to be happy.
To always remember that an ungrateful or unhappy person has simply lost their way.
Maybe I can be lucky enough to help them find it.The Warm Place link if you click here
