Tis the Season!

Right?

Sometimes this time of year leaves me searching for ... well ... more.

Like the little girl who in "The Grinch that Stole Christmas" I wonder each year about what this time of year means.

For each of us it is different. The meaning we place on this festive time of year likely changes every year for most of us. Life happens and forms an impression that carries us into the new year. With time our perceptions change. People are so transient.

Last week I spoke to a precious family whose baby has a life threatening birth defect. They have teenage children at home. Both parents work jobs that seem incredibly stressful. Money is tight. Their infant's medical needs will be insurmountable. Life is tugging them into a million tiny pieces.

The incredible stress and strain of balancing their new normal combined with holiday garnish seems overwhelming. They explained how they were divvying up money for Christmas and they doubted their other children would understand why.

Dad tells me, "It won't be much of a Christmas this year but at least our entire family will be together under the same roof."

Mom nods and holds her baby close to her heart. A tiny smile tugs at the corners of her mouth. Baby sighs trying to cuddle closer.

She begins telling me that a neighbor with three very small children is out of work and recently divorced. "Two and four year olds do not understand why Christmas won't happen for them this year. How do you explain Santa passing your house by?"

I agree that they are very young to learn such a difficult lesson. Two and four year olds should have free reign with dreams and imagination. Holiday stories should be real for them. For most children who celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah, or another holiday .... This is such a special time to be cherished.

Dad puts a pacifier in his baby's mouth. "The four year old wanted a tree and her mom was not able to buy one. We picked out a pre-lit tree and some ornaments for them. It is sitting in their house now."

Mom's grin spreads wider and her eyes shine. "The girls were so happy. It was such fun to see their expressions. The tree and ornaments were really inexpensive. Still, it felt so nice to give them a reason to smile this Christmas."

In awe I beam at this family. This mother, father, and child were in the middle of their own crisis yet they had time to brighten someone's day. I doubted it was even a quesiton. They saw a need and fulfilled it.

They had an unarguable excuse to be pitiful, desolate, and uncharitable. Anyone would look at this family's situation and feel their heart drop. No one would blame them for being focused on themselves. It would have been so much easier to look away.

But they did not.

How amazing!

They did not!!!

What an invaluable lesson they are teaching their own children.

Most impacting to my own festivities... What a meaningful gift they gave me. A beautiful story for the holidays. A reminder that we can each do better than it sometimes seems.