I got to witness a really significant act of kindness this week. For their 10th annual giveaway, a local business surprised a single mother of three in Egg Harbor Township by giving her a new roof, gutters, and exterior painting for her home. The recipient had lost her husband in May after he had struggled with a long and difficult battle with cancer. I was there to take photos when she received this special gift. All three of her children were standing at her side, and as I watched their faces, I was overcome with a sense of warmth. This act of generosity, along with countless other small and large examples of love and kindness, is what the holidays are all about. It’s not the gifts or the decorations, the lights or the big toys. Rather, the ways in which we take care of each other offer the most powerful reason to celebrate.
Each year, we are bombarded with advertisements that claim to share the recipe for the perfect Christmas or Hanukkah. Mountains of gifts with big ribbons, beautifully decorated trees, and tables set grandly for large gatherings flash across our screens. In reality, my plates don’t match, my gatherings keep getting smaller, and nothing in my yard is too spectacular. I know I’m not the only one. For most of us, the holiday season is far from ideal, and many struggle with grief and depression this time of year. Sometimes, it comes from a feeling of inadequacy for not living up to an unrealistic, picture-perfect holiday expectation. In his column, Senior Moments, Charles Eberson delves into the sensation of grief and how it can often resurface during the holidays.
Rather than buying into the media-driven stereotypes of what our holidays should look like, I’m going to focus on the real moments. For a dose of holiday authenticity, check out our spotlight on Eileen Dillion on page ___. With her team of volunteers, she is collecting scarves, attaching kind notes, and leaving them tied to poles or trees in Atlantic City for the homeless or less fortunate. With this mission to “Share the Warmth,” Eileen exemplifies the reason for the season.
I watched the classic “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” with my son last night. You probably recall that the Grinch hated Christmas and tried to stop it by stealing everything from the Whos. He crept into their homes and took their decorations, gifts, and even their food, but Christmas came anyway. In his Grinch wisdom, he states: “It came without ribbons. It came without tags. It came without packages, boxes, or bags. Maybe Christmas doesn’t come from a store. Christmas perhaps means a little bit more.”
From our family to yours, wishing you a very happy and blessed holiday season.
