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Christmas Memories Of The Joy Of Giving
by Carol Jones Saint
Some very special experiences I had as a child and a
teenager taught me the joy of bringing happiness to others at Christmas.
As a result, Christmas means much more to me than thinking of the gifts I will
receive.
Throughout the year, my mother would compile a list of
individuals she wanted to remember at Christmas. Those we helped were not
necessarily financially needy, but were lonely or had been forgotten; they were
poor in spirit. It might be a woman who had lost her husband that
year; a couple who had no children, or a young person recovering from an
accident.
Many times the few gifts we gave these friends were the
only gifts they would receive. The presents were not expensive, but they
were bought with love and wrapped with care.
For instance, I remember:
~~ A married couple, now in their 60's, who had come to the United States from
Switzerland. They had no family and seemed so alone. The smallest
gift of a writing tablet or a few pencils or a box of greeting cards would make
them glow like children -- just because someone had remembered.
~~ At least four school teachers, now retired, with families gone, each living
in retirement in a pleasant home or apartment, and they really didn't need
anything. But, oh, the glow of appreciation just to be remembered with a
jar of jelly, a brightly-colored scarf or a new booklet of Christmas thoughts.
~~ The couple who lived alone. He had been injured in World War I, and she
did ironing and baking to earn a little extra money. They were thrilled as
we sang carols and gave them gifts -- a few candy bars wrapped in ribbon, a
large-print New Testamenet, a sweater vest for him and an apron for her.
As a child and then as a teenager, I
remember the many joyful hours my three brothers and my sister and I spent
helping mother decide what each person would be given and then wrapping the
gifts.
Usually we gave four or five small
presents, rather than one big gift, so there would be more packages to unwrap.
A week before Christmas, the third floor of our home looked like Mrs. Santa's
Gift Shop. Some of the packages would be prepared for mailing by my dad
and brothers. It was often very near Christmas before we began wrapping
anything for our own family because we were so busy wrapping for others.
I remember helping my mother do this from
my earliest years. I was probably 10 or 12 before it dawned on me that
this was not something everyone did!!!
The most fun came for all of us in
personally delivering as many of the gifts as possible. Some of my most
beautiful memories of Christmas involve our family's special trips on several
nights before Christmas as we delivered the gift boxes. Usually we would
sing Christmas carols at the door to the apartment or home, and then have a
brief visit before hurrying on our way to the next stop.
As we traveled from place to place, we
enjoyed seeing the twinkling lights and beautiful decorations. And
then, as we returned home, our hearts were filled with Christmas joy because in
bringing happiness to others, we had brought the joy of giving to ourselves. |
