A Year of Smiles – Day 356: The SMILES of Christmas

Christmas SMILE #22 (Reason to SMILE #356): THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

There’s something about this time of year that brings out the best in people. Children begin behaving, doing their chores without complaining, offering to help around the house – mostly to secure their place on Santa’s “Nice List”! Families set aside differences and grudges and gather together sharing, laughing and embracing freely and wholeheartedly. Even strangers stop on the street, at the stores and in restaurants to greet each other and wish happiness and joy to all those around.

Sure, the holidays can also bring out the worst in some people. Crowds at the mall, busy city streets and noisy public venues can test anyone’s patience and place a damper on Christmas cheer. But with every “Merry Christmas” I hear as I navigate this busy season, I am reassured that the spirit of Christmas remains alive and well. And when I return each greeting with a warm SMILE and a Christmas blessing of my own, I am doing my part to spread love and joy to a world longing for Christmas Spirit and longing for the Hope and Peace it brings.

Wouldn’t it be nice if our Christmas Spirit endured all year round?

Let there be peace on earth and let it begin with me.

– “Let There be Peace on Earth” by Jill Jackson-Miller and Sy Miller

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A Year of Smiles – Day 354: The SMILES of Christmas

Christmas SMILE #2 (Reason to SMILE #354): THE CARDS

Rarely do I ever mail out Christmas cards.  I know it’s awful but can’t seem to get this simple task accomplished. Life moves too fast for me and by the time I think about it (which is usually when I receive the first Christmas card in the mail from someone who must have life all figured out), it’s too late. Yep, I’m a Christmas card failure.

For the past several years, though, I have been able to distribute a few Christmas cards without the hassle of standing in line at the Post Office. And it’s all because of a unique way of raising money at my church. Each year, the church sets up it’s own Christmas Card post office of sorts. In the main hallway, a big box with lettered slots is displayed. The idea is to bring the Christmas cards you would normally mail to various church members and place them in the appropriate slots for distribution (which means that church members check the box to see if they have any cards!). After “mailing” your cards, you drop the money you would have spent on stamps at the Post Office into a collection box. The money collected each year is donated to the Lottie Moon Christmas Offering which is collected every year by the International Mission Board of the Southern Baptist Convention.

It’s a pretty nifty way to send Christmas cards, if you ask me. I don’t have to go to the Post Office and my money is supporting the spread of the Gospel around the world. Christmas card giving success! SMILES all around!

There is one down side to this ingenious Christmas card distribution. It’s limited to my church. So, unless you plan on stopping by to check the box at my church, I suppose this digital card will have to do…