CHRISTMAS MOMENTS

I cannot claim the idea for today’s post as my own. It was my mother who gave me the concept. Where she got it, I cannot recall. It involves having ‘Christmas Moments’. What are Christmas moments? They are the gift of the special moments of joy that you either give or receive from others or the world around you. The secret to these moments is being present and intentional to appreciate and notice them. Being present really helps when you are receiving them and being intentional helps when you are looking to give them. Both of these bring joy to both your life and others.

The photo above is from a recent Christmas party held at the place that Margie and I DJ at on Sunday. Gathered around are some of the wonderful people who visit us on a weekly basis. It was nice to be able to sit and chat without having to work and yell over each other. This is an example of a ‘Christmas Moment’. Another example I have is the other day after a particularly tough day involving car repair, shoveling and working, I came in to discover that my lovely lady had a nice hot ginger beverage waiting for me on the kitchen table. It both warmed my body and my soul. In the time it took to drink it, I treasured this Christmas Moment.

You might be thinking, “Those Christmas moments sure sound wonderful. I wish I could give them to others!” You are in luck! Giving Christmas moments is just as fun and even easier than receiving them. During the crazy holiday season, there are endless possibilities to give gifts of kindness and encouragement. It just might make the difference between breaking and being able to go on to a stressed out retail employee. Even fellow shoppers are extra stressed this time of year. Many lines are longer, items may be out of stock, not to mention weather is a constant stressful factor.

How do you give a ‘Christmas Moment’ to someone else in these stressful times? Thanking a hard-working employee and letting them know you appreciate them would be priceless. Smiling and letting a person push their cart past you can lessen the stress during their shopping experience. There are Christmas moments that nobody else may notice but you. Returning your cart to the store so the employee will have one less cart to gather up in the inclement weather. You may not think one cart would not make a difference, but imagine if everyone who thought that brought their carts back? You may not get a pat on the back for this, but you will know in your heart that you did something that made someone’s life a little easier. That is a Christmas moment.

I am sure you can think of a million other ideas for Christmas moments that you can give or receive. I would love if you would share yours, but even more if we will just go out and enjoy giving and receiving them.