I love Christmas. I love the decorations, the lights, the music and giving gifts. I get excited to shop and see if I can find a perfect gift for someone close to me. I love watching our grandkids open gifts…the surprise on their faces, the joy in their eyes.
The last year and a half has brought me some health challenges that required multiple surgeries. I spent most of the year healing, and not feeling quite like myself. After my back surgery my daughter, Amy, came to visit me. While she was here she had a conversation with a friend about Santa Clause. My friend asked Amy about Javon, our 9-year-old grandson, and whether he believes in Santa Claus. Amy explained to her that someone had told him Santa wasn’t real and he had stopped believing until he talked to me and I convinced him Santa is real. I don’t recall this conversation at all but it really struck me…I spent a lot of time thinking about this and I feel like this may have been one of the best things I’ve ever done in my life. Not because of Santa himself, although who can resist his rosy cheeks, warm smile, knowing eyes, and infectious laugh. It’s not the man; it’s all he stands for…the mindset if you will….of goodness, kindness, generosity, and compassion. It’s deeply listening, really seeing, knowing, and paying attention to the people close to us. It’s the kindness to reach out to those in need because we all need help. It’s building community wherever we are because we are all so much more alike than different. It’s choosing kindness and compassion first in all of life’s circumstances…because we can. If in any way I helped to instill or nourish that mindset in Javon, then I know I have done at least one good thing this past year.
Happy Holidays!
Kai Raines 