Family and friends have started asking me what I want for Christmas
this year. Each year it gets more difficult for me to come up with tangible
gift ideas. The truth is, there isn't much of
anything I'm lacking. I'm not saying that to brag, but because it's a realization I've come to over
the last few Christmases. A lot of this comes from working at the Christmas Baskets Program
here at Dove. I look around a room filled with hats and gloves, toys and gift
items that will go to about 350 families - around 1,300
individuals, and it dawns on me every year how lucky I am. How thankful I am.
How easily things could change for me and I could be one of those in need of a
basket for my family for the season.
Each year I take calls from people who are facing hardship: the recent
death of a spouse or provider, a job loss just a couple of months before the
holiday season, a family with so many medical expenses that they can't afford Christmas dinner and presents for their children. It's heart-wrenching to listen to, and I can't imagine having to experience it, and yet I'm always aware that it could be me. It could be you, too. It's why every donation and volunteer at the Christmas Baskets is so
vital.
Each toy donated is one more child that we can provide a gift to on
Christmas morning. Each dollar given is one we can use to purchase toys, hats
and gloves, and wrapping paper. Each hat and gloves set brought to us can
assure that one more person can stay a little warmer this winter. Each
volunteer who comes to help during baskets week ascertains that the baskets get
packaged and delivered to the families we=re serving on
time.
I remember as a child how enthusiastic I would get each day closer to
Christmas. Everything excited me. The music, the lights, the food, the
presents. Seeing the stores all decked out with decorations, and then putting
up our own decorations at home and at my grandma=s. I still love Christmas, but there=s a certain amount of bittersweet heartache that goes along with it
now, knowing there are so many people in need and that no matter how many
people we help, there are more out there that we will never even know about. I
suppose this is all part of being an adult and losing the easy fantasies of
youth.
When people ask me what I want this Christmas, the truth is now that
things I wish for aren=t tangible. There is a song that best sums it up for me, and made
popular by Amy Grant titled, "My Grown Up
Christmas List." The lyrics to the chorus are as follows:
No more lives torn
apart,
That wars would never start
and time would heal all hearts
And everyone would have
a friend
And right would always win
And love would never end,
oh
This is my
grown-up Christmas List.
Items Needed for the Christmas Baskets Drive:Items for infants
(clothes, toys, diapers, etc.) Gift items for teen boys (hoodies, cologne,
watches, games, etc.)Wrapping paper, tape, gift sacks of ALL sizes (doesn=t have to be Christmas-oriented)Hats and gloves and scarves
We will need people to deliver baskets on Saturday, December 23rd,
starting at 8:30 AM. If you are able to deliver to places out of Decatur
(Mt. Zion, Moweaqua, Blue Mound, Macon, etc), please call Angie ASAP and let
her know that you're able to do this. Traditionally these clients have had to pick up
their own baskets from Decatur but if you're willing, we=d certainly appreciate it!
