Seasonal Happenings!

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During the past few holiday seasons I have made a concerted effort to note every-day-like events that reflect the essence of the meaning of the season, those times that make you stop, smile or quiver a lip, a be happy to be part of the brotherhood of man moment. These can be planned events, random acts of kindness, or spur of the moment happenings. The following illustrate what I am referring to.

During the holiday season, a couple cashed in their coins at a local grocery store. A gentleman witnessed them doing so and quickly, discreetly, dropped a $20 bill in front of them apparently thinking they were struggling financially and wanted to help. Awe struck at what happened they recovered their senses much too late to even say thank-you. What did they do? Knowing a jobless, single mother of 8 who was without a doubt struggling in all ways, they passed the $20 on to her. The mother wisely used the $20 to pay for several loads of laundry for her children’s clothes. The children’s self-images rose the next day as they proudly, happily wore their clean clothes to school with a smile and a bounce in their step.

A fragrance was left on hands that day. It is a fragrance that cannot be bottled and found on the shelf of your favorite retailer. It is a fragrance that can start with you and one small, simple act. Let’s call it “Eau de Giving”. Pick some up today!

Another witnessed event occurred at a local retail establishment where I was employed. An adult special-needs man was visiting the store with his father. Unbeknownst to the father, his son decided to use the restroom in the store. The father turned and not seeing his son, went into an immediate alarm state, running through the store, calling for him. The father even ran outside to see if his son returned to the car. Still not finding him he returned to the sore. Store management approached him and he explained the situation. A “Code Adam” was immediately enacted. After a few minutes (seemed like an eternity), his son came walking out of the restroom, oblivious to the alarm or concern going on. The look, the cry of joy, the embrace by his father upon seeing that his son was safe was priceless. The relief and love between the two just gushed a happy ending, indeed.

Or, another year, same store….a lady buying several items to donate to the “Christmas Tree” program was checking out and the cashier commented on such a lovely act of kindness. Suddenly, the customer behind her told her she would pay for the second cart of items she planned on purchasing. Result…, 2 not 1, acts of selfless giving, acts that I’m sure resulted in big smiles on many happy children’s faces.

Or, another year, same store……
I was working on the sales floor when I felt a tug on my shirt. I turned and came face-to-face (well, face to shoulder actually) with a young special needs teen. “Can I give you a hug?” she asked. I glanced behind her to her mom who nodded a yes and I smiled as the girl and I shared a special hug. She then asked if I worked there and when told yes, she said that I had better get get back to work. Wow! Talk about a day-lifter.

Or, most recently, at a local laundromat, a mother and her approximately 6 year-old son came in to do so laundry. The boy, very eager to help, proudly plugged the washer with quarters and then stood back and watched the washer spin. The facility owner called the boy over, after clearing it with mom, and handed the boy a holiday bag of seasonal candy. The bag was received with a huge smile. Wait, there’s more! A few minutes later, another mother came in. This time the child was about 1 year-old and of a different racial ethnicity than the first child. The facility owner, again after checking with the second mom, gave her a similar holiday bag. Everyone went about their business. Out of the corner of my eye, I caught the 2 children sitting on the floor across from each other, laughing, giggling and sharing their bags, oblivious to any prejudices that may exist in today’s society. Hatred is definitely not in their vocabulary. I made the owner aware of what happened, pointing out what his act of giving 2 simple bags of candy meant to the children and how wonderful it would be if it were that simple to bring about peace, uniting the world together. Hopefully, this interaction at their young ages leads to them not seeing differences in mankind in their future, but rather the commonality. On another level, 2 youngsters enjoyed some candy and each other’s company for an hour. They most likely will forget the event shortly, but it’s potential to serve as a building block to an attitude of acceptance and understanding will leave an impression to be realized years from now as they reach adulthood and then pass it down to the younger generation. As I told the owner that day, “Well done, well done!”

All these events of giving selflessly during the holiday season epitomize the potential of humankind. Why not practice it year round in an effort to change the world, one step at a time and turn such a dream into reality.

I invite everyone to be on the lookout this holiday season for examples of the real holiday season being demonstrated. If you can't find any, you can always make one! Keep checking back here for updates and what I observed this year.

Blessings to all!