Christmas giving hits close to home

I love this time of year. There is always an abundance of good news to write about around Thanksgiving and Christmas. This year was no exception. I have written a lot of wonderful news in Warren County.

I feel so blessed to get to witness the good in people. I usually just watch as people in Warren County help each other out in ways that just amaze me and then I write about it. Simple right? Well, not always, but sometimes.

I?ve seen smiling faces on adults as they drop off shoeboxes filled with items for children. I know they have their own reasons for doing it but any reason is a good one. Down deep I know that small box will go to a child whose eyes will light up when they see it, whose tears will flow when they open it and their hearts will be warmed from the love shown in the box.

I?ve watched children go on shopping sprees. I know the community organization worked all year to raise that money for this one trip. They must be thinking the same thing I think when I see those children?s eyes light up, ?That was so worth it.?

I watch as happy people drop off donations that allow someone else to have a Christmas dinner. It?s also wonderful to watch as people pick up those dinners. The light I see in their eyes is the same light you see in the eyes of children opening presents on Christmas, a wonderment that just can?t be expressed.

I watch as organizations stand beside the road and hold raffles. I see people dropping off toys and picking up angels. I drive by and I see the care people took in putting up their trees, or ladders, and I am amazed.

Seeing all these things makes me want to cry and sometimes I do. I stand back and I watch all the wonderful things that Warren County residents do for one another, and what they do that might add to the Christmas spirit for a passing motorist to see, and I am amazed.

Personally, I have been having a hard time this season. I have a family member who is ill. Around this time of year, my tears are usually shed with the wonder of all that I see and witness when I see the kind hearts of people. This year, I?ve shed more tears thinking about my brother.

With all that I have been going through, Christmas has taken a back seat at my house. There?s no tree, no wreath, no lights and no stockings. As I?ve told a few people, it?s like anti-Christmas at my house. Somewhere in all the worry I lost the Christmas spirit and the true meaning of Christmas.

Looking back from right now this minute I wish I could take it all back. I wish I could go back to after Thanksgiving and put up my tree and decorate my living room. I wish I could have convinced myself that Christmas isn?t about the money or the presents. It?s about family and friends. I should have put up that tree and decorated the house but I just couldn?t. I was more than willing to let Christmas just go by and not acknowledge it.

I was wrong. Although I love Christmas, I lost my belief in it. I also lost my belief that everything would turn out OK. I?ve always said things might not turn out like you want, but they always turn out for the best. I lost that feeling this Christmas and that?s where I went wrong.

I too have been blessed with special people in my life who came together to help me out. I just didn?t know it until now. For all those people who helped give me back my belief in Christmas, I will never be able to thank you enough. I will never forget the kindness you have shown. As my children?s faces light up on Christmas morning, I will bless you in my heart and hope your morning is as glorious as I know mine will be thanks to you.

Yes, there is a Santa Claus and he lives in the hearts of those who love you.

Lisa Hobbs is a reporter for the Standard. She can be reached at 473-2191 or by e-mail at [email protected].