Christmas is a time for holiday cheer, giving, and all around good spirit. However not every Christmas feels this way. It might be because we’re just going through the motions year after year. Or maybe life isn’t feeling very good right now so it’s hard to be in a cheery Christmas mood.
As the holidays were approaching, I certainly wasn’t feeling warm, fuzzy things. I thought, “Can we just get this over with?” I didn’t like that I felt that way, but there it was. I’ll be honest. My husband and I have been going through a lot of loss and grief. So being told it’s a happy time of year wasn’t jiving with how I felt.
I couldn’t be the only one who felt the way I did. I got the idea to start making a list of ways I might be able to bring some joy to others. Doing something (even small) could help bring a good feeling to someone’s heart. And in the process I just might enjoy the holiday I was hoping would be over quickly.
Here are some of the things I came up with:
•Pay for someone’s coffee in the drive-thru ☕️
Optional: Leave an encouraging note for the barista to give them.
•Bring cookies and a card to elderly friends/family members 🎄
•Give out cookies and chat with people in an assisted living or nursing home 🍪
•Pack a shoebox for Operation Christmas Child or another organization that does something special for those in need 📦
Note: you can pack a shoebox virtually online if the time has passed to drop them at an OCC location
•Plan some fun Christmas activities with the kiddos in your life ❄️
I’m a nanny for 3 children, so I have some fun activities and baking for us to do together on their winter break
•Plan a fun outing with your spouse, good friend, or a family member so you can make a holiday memory together 💚❤️
Some ideas might be ice skating, a Christmas train ride, a special show or play
•Bring goodies to a neighbor 🍭
Maybe pick a neighbor you haven’t had a chance to meet
•Try to go a more sentimental route for some of your gifts 🎁
Buying gifts can be stressful and hard on your wallet (which makes it more stressful). But if you know a gift is going to mean something special to someone, it’s a little more exciting.
•Invite someone over for hot cocoa and a movie 🎥
This time of year we will usually hear “Christ is the reason for the season!”
But the meaning behind that saying doesn’t always sink in. There’s a lot of people dealing with grief, loss, and sadness right now. I think its time I put more thought into how I can show others the love Christ has shown us, instead of grumbling about my To Do list.
Merry Christmas! May you find some joy this holiday season. Hugs ❤️
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A Little Handmade Charm 