Thinking about ...

... those for whom the Christmas is no cheerier or better than the rest of the miserable, depressing, chest-clinching year.

Honestly, I think we run into them more often than we think. People in line at Target, the barista at Starbucks, the father resting on the bench at the mall while his wife shops.

Just yesterday, I smiled at a Macy's cashier yesterday and asked her how she was doing and got way more than I expected.

When our family was out caroling last night (I had to stay home with Charis), the elderly man across the street shut the door on them. Then this morning he found the cookies we left in a bag on his porch and wrapped up one of his wife's cherry nut bread loaves and brought it over to apologize.

Be kind.

Say "Hi."

Smile and mean it.

And if you're the sort of person who can find it in themselves, or who can do so by the power of the Holy Spirit, really reach out. Some people are going through what this song describes, perhaps especially so at the holidays. You may be their angel before it's too late.

2 comments:

Mainely Me said...

Thanks, Jon, for the reminder to be kind. Even the kindness of a spoken greeting heartfelt smile can be a gift to the lonely and struggling soul.

Eyes_Wide_Open said...

One of my favorite Sarah songs.

Thanks for this Jon. I had similar thoughts this weekend and just wrote a little on our blog.

Thank you for your post.

We have a neighbor who rarely comes out of his house. The boys and I took them a plate of Christmas goodies last week and since then, the wife who has never said "hi," smiled and waved at me as she was leaving.

A blessed Christmas to you all.