December 24, 2008
Its Christmas time again!!!! But in less than a week, it’ll all be done. New clothes, Festive meals, cakes, sweets, greetings cards, Christmas tree, holly, the crib…..It will all come to an end. So what is it that remains for a long time to come. Perhaps just the spirit of Christmas. It is the warmth that you feel after being with your loved ones, the excitement of opening presents and the joy of a gala time. But there is a saying which says that Christmas is not as much about opening our presents as opening our hearts. True! It is Christmas only when you stop to do some good. So this time around, how can Christmas be made more meaningful and memorable?
Here are some pointers:
- Play Secret Santa in the family or Buy a small gift for everyone at home even if gifting is not a common tradition. Wrap it in colourful paper, tied with a bow and place it under the tree. On Christmas watch how each person becomes a child as they open their gifts.
- Buy gifts and cards that are attached to a cause. For example cards made by special children or gifts made by rural artisans. Most importantly make sure the recipient knows where the gift comes from.
- Most of us give out old clothes to the poor this season. This time why not buy a new item of clothing for a poor child.
- Go carol singing to a children’s home. What better way than to spend Christmas with little children. Gather a group of at least three and sing for children. Dress like Santa if you can. The smiles on their faces really tug the heart.
- Visit an old age home and help the inmates write letters to their loved ones. In this electronic age when Email and Mobile phones have replaced greeting cards and letters, there are many who find it hard to keep pace. Many do not have access to both or in some cases cannot afford it. Why not spend an hour or two and help the inmates write letters and cards for their near and dear ones.
Sponsor medical treatment for a child. It need not be a major surgery but a small contribution towards the child’s medicines for the month will go a long way in helping a poor family in need.
- Invite an inmate of an old age home for a Christmas meal with your family. A home cooked meal and people around will truly bring out Christmas for them.
- Sponsor a month’s school fees for a needy child.
- Visit an animal shelter and donate old newspapers, the pups there will never stop wagging their tails at visitors. It does not matter if it is Christmas or not.
- Distribute cake to a few patients in the hospital who are not able to celebrate Christmas at home.
- Donate blood. You could gift someone life.
- Visit a family who has recently lost a loved one. We generally tend to forget such people in our merriment.
- Cook a meal for Mama on Christmas. The whole year through, she cooks for you. This is your time to do something for her.
- If you sit down and think, Christmas can be made special in so many ways. A small gesture on our part can bring joy to many hearts.
Lets take this Christmas beyond cakes, puddings and wine. Lets reach out and spread the message of love around.
Christmas is forever, not for just one day,
for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away
like bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf.
The good you do for others is good you do yourself...
~Norman Wesley Brooks, "Let Every Day Be Christmas," 1976
From Daijiworld archives:
Melisha Noronha - Archives: