Day 4 in our journey through, “The Little Book of Christmas Joys,” by H. Jackson Brown, Jr., Rosemary Brown, and Kathy Peel as we each seek to make this a joy-filled season of hope and promise.
· Give someone who’s discouraged the gift of encouragement.
· Make your family feel just as important as your holiday company.
· Change out the Christmas CDs or Tapes or Records (whatever you use) so you embrace the full scope of the holiday music.
· Offer to carry someone’s packages.
· Plan a quiet evening with your family the week after Christmas. Talk about your goals for the coming year.
· Take your family and some neighborhood children to the movies, ice skating, to the park … make it adventure.
· Try different recipes.
· Go out and look at Christmas decorations … Shout, “Merry Christmas” to everyone you meet.
· Pass out some candy canes at the mall, Wal-Mart, Target, or on main street.
· Serve holiday cookies on a Santa Claus platter.
· Give a small gift – such as a tree ornament – to each guest when you have a holiday party.
· Feeling harried? Go to a church, sit in the sanctuary, and reflect on the real meaning of Christmas. You’ll leave feeling more peaceful.
· Consider taking a family trip one Christmas instead of exchanging gifts.
· Invite people over on the spur of the moment, serve hot apple cider and freshly popped popcorn.
· Don’t forget, no matter how many Christmas photos you take, next year you’ll wish you had taken more.
· Try to create the funniest or silliest Christmas photo of your family – have fun!
· Read out lout “The Gift of the Magi” by O. Henry when you have your family over.
· This Christmas, write letters to several people who have had a positive influence on your life.
· If you are able take the parking space as far away from the entrance to the mall leaving the ones closest for others … besides, you need the exercise anyway.
· Put Christmas lights and a small wreath on the dog house.
· Whenever you are out of town make sure you pick at least one little ornament for your tree this way you will remember the trip and celebrate the season.
· Tie peppermint candy canes to children’s packages.
· Always buy something from students holding a Christmas bake sale and tell them to keep the change.
· Unless you’re certain of the correct size, don’t give someone clothing.
· Take a child to the library and check out a book of Christmas stories.
· Keep a roll of one dollar bills in your pocket to pass out on a whim when you are out shopping.
· This season, cut others – as well as yourself – more slack than usual.
· Replace your shoelaces with a red one and a green one.
· Put pebbles or marbles instead gift boxes so that when they shake the packages, they won’t be able to guess what’s inside.
· Hide a least one gift per person and send them on a scavager hunt through the house and garage.
· Include a new game among the gifts under the tree. Play it several times on Christmas day.
· When you put away the decorations label each box as to what is on the inside. You’ll have a better chance of starting with joy next year.
· Visit in the nursing home. Ask for the names of those who do not have regular visitors. You will be surprised as to how many never have a visitor.
· Take daily walks with a person that you love, especially after the Christmas meal.
· Read “The Littlest Angel” by Charles Tazewell to a child.
· Remember that the loving holiday spirit in your home depends more on the words you speak than on the gifts you give.
More to come tomorrow.
Quote for today: “Without eternity, life would be but a tale told by an idiot.” Source unknown.
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