During the course of the holiday season, we often focus on gifts for those close to us. The people that we hold near and dear to our hearts.
Sometimes we focus on ourselves just a little. Or at least I do, because let's be honest, every once in a while we need to do that.
But what about the people we don't know?
There are angel trees in malls for children. There are organizations which will help you adopt a family for Christmas. There are websites devoted to "love-bombing" people in need.
Every way you could want to help people in need is out there.
The holidays bring my thoughts back to my grandparents and the emptiness in my heart that they're not here. And I so wish that I had had more time with them. Time to show them the woman I've become. Time to just sit and hold their hands and listen to their stories.
I don't have that luxury, so instead, I shower that attention on Meme, Mr. Potts' grandmother. She's had health problems this entire year and has been in and out of the hospital. She's recovered from two staph infections - amazing, right?
So this Christmas, we're journeying home to Louisville and we'll make sure we spend extra time with her. Because you never know when a holiday may be the last one you have with someone.
But this isn't the focus of this post today.
The holidays bring my grandparents to mind. When this happens I often drift to the elderly people alone in their homes or in nursing homes.
A coffee shop in Charlotte, Dilworth Coffee, partnered with a local organization to help people in our area "Be a Santa for a Senior". I was so touched by that and the thought behind it since so many seniors can be forgotten during this time of the year.
While children (my munchkins and the babies of my friends) bless me, seniors tear at my heart. Mr. Potts will laugh with me, but sometimes when I see an older couple I just want to hug them.
In fact, I've been known to do this to random strangers.
Not like in a random, scary way, but in a, "Hi, I think you're wonderful & beautiful & now I'm going to hug you."
The reaction is always immediate. The hug is returned, I walk away with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face.
It brightens my day and so often I'm thanked for that simple kindness.
I try to think regularly about how I can brighten days and bring smiles to people's faces; the holidays tend to bring that out in me a little more.
I hope that I manage to touch other people's hearts, because God knows, so many have touched mine. Including many of you.
Sometimes we focus on ourselves just a little. Or at least I do, because let's be honest, every once in a while we need to do that.
But what about the people we don't know?
There are angel trees in malls for children. There are organizations which will help you adopt a family for Christmas. There are websites devoted to "love-bombing" people in need.
Every way you could want to help people in need is out there.
The holidays bring my thoughts back to my grandparents and the emptiness in my heart that they're not here. And I so wish that I had had more time with them. Time to show them the woman I've become. Time to just sit and hold their hands and listen to their stories.
I don't have that luxury, so instead, I shower that attention on Meme, Mr. Potts' grandmother. She's had health problems this entire year and has been in and out of the hospital. She's recovered from two staph infections - amazing, right?
So this Christmas, we're journeying home to Louisville and we'll make sure we spend extra time with her. Because you never know when a holiday may be the last one you have with someone.
But this isn't the focus of this post today.
The holidays bring my grandparents to mind. When this happens I often drift to the elderly people alone in their homes or in nursing homes.
A coffee shop in Charlotte, Dilworth Coffee, partnered with a local organization to help people in our area "Be a Santa for a Senior". I was so touched by that and the thought behind it since so many seniors can be forgotten during this time of the year.
While children (my munchkins and the babies of my friends) bless me, seniors tear at my heart. Mr. Potts will laugh with me, but sometimes when I see an older couple I just want to hug them.
In fact, I've been known to do this to random strangers.
Not like in a random, scary way, but in a, "Hi, I think you're wonderful & beautiful & now I'm going to hug you."
The reaction is always immediate. The hug is returned, I walk away with tears in my eyes and a smile on my face.
It brightens my day and so often I'm thanked for that simple kindness.
I try to think regularly about how I can brighten days and bring smiles to people's faces; the holidays tend to bring that out in me a little more.
I hope that I manage to touch other people's hearts, because God knows, so many have touched mine. Including many of you.
9 comments:
Such a sweet and beautiful post!
I've found myself spending a lot of time with my Ninny this season and loving every second of it.
Today I gave a homeless man standing in the ATM vestibule all the change in my wallet...it put a smile on his face and mine!
So sweet Kim, makes me miss my Grannie Annie. I want to cry when I think of some elderly people who are the only ones left-how lonely they must feel. I hope they all feel some love this time of year!
You can't say things like this to a pregnant and hormonal woman! Because it makes us--I mean THEM--CRY!
Seriously though. So sweet. And it did make me cry. Just a little.
So blessed to know you too.
Lonely old people at the holidays make my heart sad....alot of people forget that sometimes these people don't have anyone to celebrate the holiday with.
That is amazing... I always feel the same way around the holidays. It breaks my heart to see people with out a family.
Our team volunteered at Samaritan's Purse today packing shoe boxes for kids across the world. Great thing indeed!
One of the best holiday posts of this festive season. Put a smile on my face and brought tears in my eyes :)
That's great. I wish I had the courage to just walk up to people & hug them like that.
Mr. Potts isn't alone - D makes fun of me all the time when I get weepy if we see an older person eating alone in a diner or something. I always want to ask them to join us - D's like "maybe his grandkids are driving him insane and all he wanted to do was go out for a quiet bite to eat?" LOL
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