GIVE YOURSELF AS A GIFT AT CHRISTMAS


During the Christmas Season our family, along with friends of our church, go to nursing homes in our area to sing Christmas Carols and share a little holiday spirit. However, in all reality we are the ones that get blessed.

As we walk the halls singing songs of joy it always makes me think about the life experiences of the people being cared for at these homes. Many have illnesses and many have just reached the age of needing care as their lives face their final days.

As we pass by each room you can get a glance at items on their dressers and night stands. There are pictures of families including grand children and even great grand children. There are cards from former employers where many have retired from years ago.

The most moving item that I see is the “ball cap” with that persons history represented by the logo and pins attached. Many of these ball caps have logos representing military service going back to WWII and Korea. Some have attached ribbons won for the service to our nation. Some sadly have a purple heart denoting that person’s injury during conflict in war that many of us just read about in books of history.

As we pass by, some of these dear people struggle to get out of bed and come to their door to join in on the sweet songs of the season. Holding on to the door they sing the songs we have selected with a look on their face that shows their thinking of memories from times past.

We sing, shake their hand, and give a hug. Once past their room we glance back and observe these wonderful new friends reclining back in bed and wiping a tear from their eye. What a heart stirring sight to see.

The true meaning of Christmas is the birth of Jesus Christ and we must never forget that message. But along with this it is the season for gift giving. Since Thanksgiving we have all watched countless hours of T.V. commercials advertising the latest electronic gadget, the most popular doll, and of course my favorite, the one that says buy a new Lexus for your loved one….uh reality check please.

However, the gift worth giving can’t be bought, but has a value beyond money. You will not find it in the weekly retail circular and it will not appear in the Mall kiosk.

The greatest gift to give at Christmas is yourself in an endeavor to better your community. It can be by donating your time or sharing your treasures. It could be using your talents to help put a smile on a friend who has entered their sunset years.


It’s not the price tag that makes the gift; it’s the passion in which that gift is given.

Going back to our time at the nursing homes. We sometimes were a little off key, but that did not matter. We might have forgotten a few words of the Christmas carol, but how many know the third verse to “We wish you a Merry Christmas.”

Nevertheless, the look on the faces of the people there made us realize that it was not the perfection of music that they enjoyed, but our presence. They just were grateful that a group would share their Sunday afternoon to make their day just a little better.

So try it! Stop for just a moment, and get the family together. Think of one place you could go to encourage someone. Go to the store, fill a cart with food, and drop it off at that single parent’s door to make sure they know someone cares.

Simply, you are the gift….give it out freely and frequently.

Merry Christmas from the Stokes Family

Greg Stokes