Oh that we could always see, such spirit through the year...

Today I had something small happen to me, and it may seem a little like I'm blowing my own horn, but I wanted to share this not for that reason, but for that sentiment expressed in that beautiful song "Christmastime is Here".

I love Christmas, its flat out my favorite season of the year. Snow or no snow, I still love it, and all the magicalness and good feelings, and kindness associated with it. Christmas is that season of giving, and of generosity and benevolence and light-hearted child spirited'ness.


Anyways, I was working today, and off on my lunch break. I stopped at Arby's to get a meal. My car that I was driving I couldn't roll the driver window down...so I had to go inside to order. As I was waiting around in line, I noticed the guy ordering at the counter. He was an old guy, with a cane, and very slow. He took a long time to order, and walked away from the counter with his food tray shaking, because his hands could not steady. He walked past me to the drink counter behind, and I lost sight and he went out of my mind as I continued to wait impatiently in line.

Suddenly I heard a crash, I turned around, and saw that the old man, while trying to fill his drink, had dropped his tray of food on the ground. And he couldn't even bend over to grab it, just stood there with what seemed a frustrated look.

A few people where standing around, and saw, and the Arby employees did too from behind the counter, but they didn't say anything, and no one moved. I almost didn't, and then a split second later I realized how mean that was to think. So I grabbed his tray. Most of his food was still wrapped safely in the paper, which I handed back to him. He had a cherry slice of pie or something that hit the ground though. He mumbled a thanks and took his meal away, and I threw the cherry thing out.

Then I thought, hey that poor guy lost his desert, I should buy him something. Only I forgot what it was he dropped (thought it was a apple slice) So I ordered an apple slice, and got a sliced apple...but I figured he would enjoy it regardless. I went over to his table and gave him the apple. He asked me what it was for, and I said, oh you lost your slice, I thought you might like this. Then I said the silliest thing ever before running out the door. I said 'Merry Christmas'. It just sort of popped into my head, because I felt like I was giving him a present.

And a smile popped on his face as he mumbled another thanks, and when I drove by the window out of the parking lot, I could see him through it, sitting there and eating an apple slice.

And I went away smiling to work. Because I got an opportunity to help and cheer someone up. I know its trivial, but you know, one thing that goes to a guys heart is food, I'll be honest. It may sound silly, but loosing a portion of your meal, is a big deal. And man who knows what that old guy may have been going through at his point in life. He was alone by himself, and very old, slow, tired. He could have seen many of his friends already gone before him, maybe bitter with the loss of youth, or lost a grandchild or spouse. I don't know. But I was able to make that guy smile, and it felt like Christmas.

And that moment, that being able to help someone else, being able to put a smile on their face, being able to lift people up out of depression, that's what I live for, that's one of my purposes, that's what wakes me up.

And Christmas is just full of those opportunities, but its not just for Dec 1st to Dec 25th. Its like the song...Oh that we could ALWAYS see such spirit through the year!