Dear Polly,

I can’t get in the “Christmas Spirit” this year. It just don’t feel like being very merry this holiday.  I am curious though.  Do you believe in Santa Claus?

Scroogey,
Anita
Harrington, Delaware

Dear Anita,

Yes I do.

Most sincerely,
Polly

…. and I’ll tell you why.

Santa Claus was one of the first people to teach me about the magic of giving.

It is a good thing to give. To share with others. To give the gift of yourself. It is truly magical. Giving comes from a genuine heart filled with compassion. When you become filled with kindness, tolerance, and love for others, you find the natural desire to want to give.  At least…. that’s what I think.

This idea has been around as long as mankind. It has been written about in all forms of prose. While I don’t know the bible very well… I have always loved the line from Thessalonians… which says… “So encourage each other and build each other up.”

So encourage each other. And build each other up. Holy smokes… this is good advice.

Giving comes in many shapes and sizes. From the simple to the complex. We have special people in our lives… family and friends, and dogs and cats. It is with those individuals where we find a constant “dialogue” of giving… of encouraging each other… building one another up. Yep. Friends.

Things happen each day which remind me of this wonder and goodness.

Tonight we had a get together here at our house. We invited ALL our Facebook Friends. Collectively, that would have been 418 people… if everyone had shown.

But about 20 or so did show up. I liked being with those friends. We gave back and forth all night.  It was just like the magic of Santa Claus to me.

And, besides all of that Anita…. I think I saw him when I was little. In the sleigh… with the reindeer… flying through the December sky. I hope you can get into the spirit. It is all around you.

After all…….  Sleigh Bells ring… are you listening?

Give what you have. To someone, it may be better than you dare to think.
– Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

P.S. Anita…. we have lots of leftovers.  We cooked for 418!  So if you’d like some party meatballs, chicken wings, or those little cocktail weenies wrapped in blankies… just let me know.  I can send a package up to Delaware.