IT is the time of year for the young ones around us!!!

Christmas excitement is mainly for children. The understanding of the true meaning of Christmas comes later in life.

So this is what I want every single adult to do. Look around and see if there are any children that you know are going to have rough Christmas. Then do whatever you can for just one of them to make it a better holiday. It does not have to be money. Your actions can be just as meaningful.

That is all that we need to do for this to be much better holiday for many kids.

Why is this so important to me?? I never really wanted for the basics in life. I never went to bed hungry, cold or abused. We may not have had fancy or expensive gifts or cloths but we had a loving family. My Mother made sure of that. She may not have been able to have a fancy tree or loads of gifts under the tree but we sure knew she loved us all. I have seen her go without so us kids could have something for Christmas.

My first wife was not so lucky. Her family was very poor. Mostly due to her Father's weaknesses. She KNEW what going to bed hungry was. She KNEW what wearing worn out/poor fitting cloths was. She KNEW what the threat of abuse was.

So when she and I became married she worked her hardest to make sure our children never had to KNOW any of those things. She later expanded this to many foster children over the years as well.

So in her memory I try to do what I can for the young ones. This year I want to ask for you all to think about "helping" some young ones if you can. Even just bringing a smile to child's face is a help. A joke or just a smile to a young one is a start.

So I wish you all to have a Merry Christmas. Please help spread good cheer to the young ones among us.

good post,will do.and a merry christmas to you and everyone else.

For years we had a "giving tree" in our church. We picked envelopes where kids/adults requested gifts, thru our local social concerns cmte. Better half and I always picked a couple each, and it was fun to buy and wrap the gifts, and deliver to the cmte. This year, they decided on cash gifts to the food shelf only, and cards remain. It just isn"t as much fun to just give money. I hope they go back to gifts next year.....so much fun to pick/wrap/deliver.

This evening we had a Christmas pageant after Mass, 80 kids in costume, Nativity story, followed by Santa coming forward, picking up the baby Jesus, displaying HIM to the crowd, holding HIM up for all to see, as the REASON FOR THE SEASON. Wonderful lesson to all the little ones. Not too many dry eyes among us older ones, either.

Excellent idea JD. I think at lot of us would be surprised at how "close to home" the need truly is for some children. I'd bet very few of us would have to look much further than our local communities, churches, and neighborhoods.
JMS/.MN, I really appreciate what your church did to put emphasis on what Christmas is truly about. I sadly believe fewer and fewer children are taught that lesson each year.

JMS/.MN I agree that just "sending" money is not in the spirit of Christmas as much as more directly giving.

I rarely give just money. Especially to any group. Many of these groups may be fine but too many get small percentage back to the people in need.

Many of the foster kids we had may only have been with us a few days/weeks. Just holding them in your lap and reading a book meant more to many of them than some material thing.

Aaron- I know you and your girls- mom and 2 dau know...re the numbers....Margi, my more than wonderful better half is involved with religious ed....those 80 kids are in that, plus more...they show up every Wednesday....but where are they on Sunday? AND their parents? That is why we lose numbers as parishes get older. Younger couples don"t see the value of what we grew up with. Sadly, that includes some of my kids.

On Labor day weekend a young man I work with but hardly know was injured in a boating accident, both feet were cut off. He is having a rough time with infections along with recovery and depression. He has 3 kids, a teenage girl and 2 under 10. There was a benefit for him at the local legion in Oct. I asked around work about it and was told Jim was his neighbor, so I asked him if he was involved with the benefit. He said no, but he did see Matt and checked up on him every few days. I told Jim that I wouldn't make the benefit, but would like to donate. Jim said he would make sure the $$ would get to Matt, so I gave him $100. Along in early Nov, something kept nagging inside me, You need to make sure Matt's kids have a Christmas. This thought kept bugging me, so I talked to Jim and told him I wanted to make sure Matt's kids had a Christmas and I would like to give them some money for this. Jim proceded to tell me that Matt has struggled financially for years and that Jim and his wife have been buying presents for Matt's kids for several years now. I told him I felt that I needed to help them, would he and his wife see to it that they got some money if I gave it to them? Jim said, I see Matt's Dad about once a week, let me talk to him. A couple of weeks later, Jim stopped me at work and said that they could make it work out. The next day, I took $150 and gave it to Jim to give them with this stipulation; I want to remain anonymous, the $100 is for the 3 kids and $50 for Matt, he needs a Christmas also. If Matt's Dad says they are covered for presents for the kids, then they could use the money to pay bills. Jim said he would see to it. I thanked him for helping me and Jim thanked me back for helping Matt and his family. A few days later, Jim stopped me and said he had given Matt my gift and what I had said. He told me that Matt started crying and told him to tell me thank you. I'm not wealthy, I have work for a living, but I can survive alright without the money I gave them, but I sleep better at night knowing that I helped just a little. Only my wife and the people who read this know I did this, I haven't told anyone else, don't plan to. My advise to all, find someone who needs help and give a little of your excess, you will sleep better at night. Merry Christmas to all, Chris

This hits a little close to home, My brother and his wife have been married for 17 years and never could have a child, they wanted to but she is infertile. My cousin is in a city and had 5 kids and he and his wife are young like 20s young, and got hooked on drugs. They been in and out of jail but the kids where taken away. This has gone on for a while the oldest child is 8 and he is with his grandpa, my uncle, the second got a new loving home but the next 2 girls did not. They were in and out of foster homes that were not a stable loving environment. The youngest, my brother was asked if he would foster him when he was born, this was last year, my brother was a little reluctant to but excepted, he thought he was getting to old. I don't think you could rip them two apart! My cousin and his wife finally gave up rights on the children, so my brother is going to adopt the little guy. Our uncle asked him if he would take the two girls in too and he agreed, he took them in back at Thanksgiving.

thats a great story ,we wish the best,,,wonderful people,,,,,Merry Christmas to all

Our church does something similar to JMS/.MN with an "Angel Tree". The Missions Comm. will get the names of 15-20 kids ages 2-16 or so. Their name'll be on the tree on a tag, along with a wish list. Church members shop for what's on the list and anything else they think may help. We're a small church, only 40 or so members and 25-30 of them active, but we try to help the disadvantaged. Merry Christmas everyone!

Excellent way to bring you back to reality. When I was on the Fire department we had a family lose there house Christmas eve . 3 kids and mom and dad. One of our guy's wife work at a big store and he made a phone call. Everything was donated that they needed. It took a engine and a squad to haul the stuff to the station for wrapping. I ran home and got my Santa suit I had and we made a special delivery with lights and siren.
When we came thru the door the kids were in total shock and not a dry eye in the place. Time from call to delivering was 8hrs that I wouldn't have missed for the world. This is a special time for giving.

Thanks JD. I got wet eyes reading your story and some of the responses. Jim

That will make you wet in the eye. Thanks to "all", the volunters and paid servants that really care about their fellow man. That is what Chirstmas is all about.

Good JOB Super Trucker!!!!

Could money buy the feeling you got when those kids got the presents????? I bet not.

A guy where I use to work dresses up as Santa every year and gives out toys to kids in Children's Hospital.
Even though I have moved on and do not work there anymore I send him a check every year to buy a few more toys.

Your brother and SIL are GOOD PEOPLE!!!! The joy they will bring those three children is priceless!!!! They actually will harvest the returned LOVE from those children.

Great stories!

It is Christmas season. If anyone can possibly help someone who needs it, child or adult alike, we should make an effort. remember, even if the parents are bums the kids deserve better than that! It doesn't even need to be new. It can be something that is refurbished! Old Tonka trucks and toy tractors clean up nicely and a little fresh paint can make a kids Christmas fantastic. Repairing and repainting old toys to give to kids in doesn't require a lot of space or money. Some of you old retired guys who are bored could find yourself a new hobby :lol: :lol: !!

Another one I like a lot is "Toy For Tots" run by the US Marines.

And here is the big thing. We can do this and donate to organization that will distribute stuff or most of us know a family or 2 that can really use the help!

Rick