Special Time of Year

I love Christmas!

 I love everything about it; the sights, the lights, the smells, and the overall giving spirit of the holiday. Christmas has always been my favorite holiday. As I get older, it seems to just get better and better. Not because I get better gifts, but because there is just so much meaning behind this time of year.

Growing up my parents always instilled in us the real reason for Christmas, the birth of Jesus Christ. They also always made sure we knew the reason of Christmas was not for presents, but to try and help others less fortunate than us. As I have gotten older, this becomes more and more true for me. In the past few years there are very few things I have wanted for Christmas, and I would prefer money spent of gifts go to help others.

This year, like many years in the past, my family "adopted" a family at a local church. This was the first year I have had a steady job with a steady income and was really able to participate. The little boy we adopted is 6 years old.I cannot tell you the smile I had on my face while shopping for him, and knowing we were helping his family. There is no greater job (at least not at this point in my life, I'm sure once we have children this will change) than being able to help others. My heart is so full this year. I hope this little boy and his mom have an amazing Christmas. I know that even if I have not one gift under the tree this year, I would still be completely fulfilled. This is what Christmas is all about. No amount of gifts will ever give me the fulfillment helping others does.