Lend a Hand to Santa

I remember as a child feeling as though this crisp climate, the twinkling lights, the treasured songs, and all the merriment was absolutely magical. We all used to load up in the car and go to Christmas City, which was this park where a local church would decorate the entire camp area with lights that told the Christmas story. As small town as this may seem, it was something I looked forward to every year. They recently re-opened this park to the public again and I would by lying if I didn't secretly want to ask Jay to go.

As I have aged, Christmas is still special but I find that as the years pass it has become special in different ways. Now my joy is experienced through the children in my life and the process of putting it all together for them. I can't wait to see the look on Taylor's face when she opens her gifts from Santa or the confused look on Grey's face as we tear into the gifts.

Today USA posted an article straight from the mail rooms of this country that are routing the letters to the North Pole. On these gift wish lists there is an apparent trend happening. Instead of Barbies or racetracks being asked for there necessities like coats, shoes, clothes, and socks. Now, it is a travesty when families can't provide their kids with socks. Everyone feels the generosity in the air during Christmas and I think that instead of donating to Africa or Haiti or any other 3rd world country this holiday season, which by the way is admirable, we should give money to our poor right here in our country. Some of these people lost there jobs in the last two years through no fault of their own. The stress that must have weighed down on these families worrying whether or not they could feed and clothe their children must amplify during a gift giving season. This has lead to many hardships and the worst of them in my opinion is homelessness. I see so many homeless and often think on nights that get down to 25 degrees about them and how they make it through nights like that. This thought makes me realize how fortunate I am to have a nice, warm, comfy bed to sleep in where all I have to do is walk through the house and to the thermostat when I am cold. Becca came in this week saying that she heard on the radio that Memphis, TN is the hungriest city in the United States. That is something to consider when contemplating charity.

Christmas should be magical to kids just the same way that it was when I was a child and I just wish that there was some way to ensure that it will be for all the kids of this world.  These children should not be asking Santa for coats and socks or for Mommy or Daddy to get a job in letters to him and his elves. They should be dreaming of all the magic that surrounds this holiday.

Keep these families in your prayers during this time and lend a hand if you can.