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Experiencing Christmas

December 23, 2011

By:

Erin Schrader

My heart is SO full at the moment.
The last two days I have had the joy of experiencing what the real meaning of Christmas is all about.
Wednesday, I got to meet with my little guy that I “mentor”
{definition of mentor: pelt each other in the heads with dodgeballs, play Old Maid, and eat candy together}
Anyhow-with it being Christmas and all, I thought it would be a good idea to show that kid some love and bring him a few gifts.
After several “OH MY GOSH…YOU DID NOT NEED TO” moments,
 he decided what he wanted to do with one of the gifts I got him {candy canes}.
We marched throughout his whole school and handed out little candy canes to every teacher and volunteer we could find.
With every candy cane he gave, he offered a huge smile and belted out
 “Merry Christmas”
My heart melted.
Here is this child who does not receive much, but when he receives, chooses to give it away…
What a beautiful lesson to be learned.
Then there was Thursday.
I am so beyond blessed to work for the company that I do.
We give so much to the community and volunteer whenever possible.
For the past several years, our work as thrown a Christmas party for a local organization that houses “at risk” children.
For many of the children there, this is the only Christmas that they get.
You guys have no idea the impact this had on me.
I sit here in tears thinking about those little ones.
The genuine joy and appreciation they had for the 1 {maybe 2} gifts they got, was incredibly moving.
Have you ever had moments of intense joy and intense pain all at once?
That’s how it was.
I came home last evening and tried putting into words to my husband what I witnessed,
and instead of words, I had tears.
Tears that I did not think I could ever stop.
Little spirits are so precious.
It is so hard for me to fathom why some children have to live the life they are living.
I literally do not understand.
And it tears up my insides to think about.
I so often truly forget how insanely blessed I am.
It was in those moments these past few days, I remembered what the true meaning of Christmas is all about.
It so easy to get caught up in the stresses of everything that is going on around us.
The gifts we have to buy {for the people who do NOT need them},
the time we put into making the presents look so pretty,
the meals we have to cook for our loved ones,
the decor we have to get up to make our homes look pretty,
etc.
It is in the moments of giving.
The moments of joy.
The moments of seeing a middle school student cry to santa that he does not care what he receives,
but that he just wants his family to have a good Christmas…
Those are the memories that I will remember forever.
May your heart be full this Christmas.
Love you all.

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