It's that time of year again, our December newsletter, where the lack of content means another article by yours truly, the humble newsletter editor.
If this time of year for you is anything like it is for me, you're running around like some crazed elf of Santa's, with too much to do, too many people to visit, and, at least in my case, working like crazy because you're shorthanded at work, plus everyone is taking time off for the holidays.
Hence the reason the newsletter is so late this month.
Nevertheless, as we scurry around this holiday season, we should never lose sight of what is truly important...presents.
No, seriously, hear me out. It's not just my inner 6-year-old who is so excited for Christmas morning that he is running around Christmas Eve until he exhausts himself, then wakes you up at the crack of dawn, jumping up and down on you as you sleep, yelling at you to wake up.
When you ask about the rule that nobody is allowed to get up before 8 a.m., he just cocks his head at you and says, "Yeah...tough luck, Uncle Bri!" before flying through the air to land on top of you with his patented "Pancake" attack. (Why yes, this was an actual personal experience, why do you ask?)
While the getting of presents is great, because who doesn't love to get something, this time of year it's about the giving.
A wise person once told me that when pondering what kind of gift to give to someone, consider giving them something they cannot or would not get for themselves. For instance, my father loves to read Westerns, but he is often so busy and doesn't have the time to find new books, so he just reads his old ones over again.
This year I found a book of Western short stories written by authors new to the genre. I also spent some time researching other new authors, and gave him a list of their books.
Sure, he could afford to buy the book I gave him, the cost wasn't the point. He didn't have time, and that's really what I was giving to him with the research: time he didn't have to do the thing himself.
Here at Chaffee County Habitat for Humanity, we work to give people homes. Many of us are fortunate enough to be able to afford to purchase our own homes, but sometimes people need help getting something they cannot give themselves.
Now I may not have Dale Shoemaker's constructional acumen, or Jill Smola's organizational talents, but I've picked a few things up over the years as a graphic designer, a writer, editor and life-long computer geek that I can use to help out with this newsletter.
What can you give? What talents do you have to offer to help out someone less fortunate? If nothing else, just like my gift to my father, would you be willing to give of your time?
"For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life." (John 3:16)
God's gift of his son Jesus gave to us the gift of salvation, something we could not get ourselves. Christ, in turn, gave his life, the ultimate sacrifice and gift.
Because let's be honest, isn't the giving of ourselves and our time the ultimate gift we can give to someone?
How are you going to give this year?
