December 2011

 

 

This past weekend I was standing in line to grab a quick bite to eat. I noticed the lady next to me and we happened to look at each other at the same time. She held in her hands 3 or 4 sheets of paper that I knew had to be a very long Christmas list. I asked her if she was almost done with her shopping. For the next 15 minutes or so I listened to her story, along with her husband. This couple have no biological children, which made me wonder why their list was so long. They had inadvertently received approximately 30 letters from children. The letters were the children's wish lists to Santa Claus this year. They explained to me that they couldn't just throw the letters away and dismiss the disappointment that these children would feel when they woke up on December 25th. They then took the letters, divided them between family members and friends, and began the monumental task of purchasing the items on each and every wish list. She further explained that the children who wrote the letters did not live in Pennsylvania. They lived in New York, the Bronx to be more precise. Not only were they buying these children Christmas gifts, but they needed to wrap and mail them as well. I found this story to be incredibly touching. I asked the both of them if they would mind if I wrote about their story on my website. They agreed but  insisted that I not include their names. They said that no one needs to know what they are doing.  I will honor their request but I want to tell them that for the rest of that weekend day, I was in awe of the two of them. Their selfless act of kindness inspired me.

 


 

 

I would like to share a poem with you that I unexpectedly received in the mail today. After receiving it I decided to make copies to go into the Christmas stockings that we were putting together for a local homeless shelter. It was written by Mother Teresa and speaks to my heart. I hope you enjoy it.

 

 

 

                                                       

                                         Do It Anyway

 

People are often unreasonable, illogical and self-centered; Forgive them anyway.

If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives; Be kind anyway.

If you are successful, you will win some false friends and some true enemies; Succeed anyway.

If you are honest and frank, people may cheat you; Be honest and frank anyway.

What you spend years building, someone could destroy overnight; Build anyway.

If you find serenity and happiness, they may be jealous; Be happy anyway.

The good you do today, people will often forget tomorrow; Do good anyway.

Give the world the best you have and it may never be enough; Give the world the best you've got anyway.

You see, in the final analysis, it is between you and God; It was never between you and them anyway.

 

 

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to you and your families. See you in 2012!

 

Elizabeth

 

 

 

Letter From a Friend who Volunteered at the Safe Harbor Holiday Party 


Remember when Mom would say 'Do with what you have'  or 'Be thankful for what you have'....
 
Christopher and I just got home from visiting a Safe Harbor shelter.  We went with many of the boys from his soccer team and there were four girls in the group.  The girls traveled with me.  On our way we talked about what to expect, how some people don't have as much as we do, and not to be afraid to talk to the people who live there.
 
Upon arrival we were greeted by volunteers and and shelter administrators who gave us a tour of the dorms.  The bunk beds are slight, the storage cabinets small, the single-gender bathrooms are shared by many, and the food is never questioned.
 
The children were anxious, anxious to give, anxious to help, anxious with nerves.  They couldn't wait to give away the stockings they stuffed with simple things like deodorant and hats.  Although some did not show much emotion, or maybe they did not know how, the residents were appreciative of the gifts.  We spoke about sports (of course), we spoke about jobs, we spoke about goals (not soccer goals), we spoke about food - and perhaps they didn't know it, but we spoke about and saw Life.
 
On the way home I asked the girls what they learned.  "The people there are happy and they really don't have much."  "Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover", "Just because a person looks a certain way, doesn't mean they are not nice".
 
The last time I was moved to write something like this, the boys had to dig into their 'athletic' hearts to learn a lesson.  This time their hearts simply grew so much by giving so little - without practice and without expectation.
 
I asked Christopher what he learned tonight.  He said, without hesitation, "That I'm pretty lucky."  In the moments of silence that followed my eyes welled with emotion.  It was one of those moments when your kid just floors you.  You're speechless.
 
I am home now in my warm house with a refrigerator and cupboard full of food and I'm about to crawl into my own bed with as many or as little blankets as I want.   Like the girls said - It doesn't take much to be happy.   So now I'm going to say it (no matter how cliche it may sound) - Be thankful for what you have.
 
 
Have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.