Recently I read a quote by Erma Bombeck that said, " There is nothing sadder in this world than to awake on Christmas morning and not be a child." While I disagree, the saddest being the loss of a child, I understand the thought behind her words.
Two days ago I was in Lowe's when I saw a senior gentleman with snow white hair, flowing beard and mustache. My first thought was "well there's Santa." Mind you it was 90 degrees and the end of May. As he got closer, I realized he was wearing a green shirt, red shorts and red crocs. On the bottom left side of his shorts was an embroidered Santa. I looked around me to see if anyone else had noticed and while there were no children around, there were seven adults in the area and all of them had now spotted the man with rosy cheeks and the big smile. And wouldn't you know, each adult was smiling back and had a glimmer in their eye as if to be remembering the joy they knew as a kid when they saw the man called Claus.
After paying for my purchases, I headed out to the car where the family was waiting and there I was told by my children of the Santa with the Red Mustang and exactly what he was wearing and how I really should have seen him. The excitement that this man caused and we didn't even know if he was the "real" Santa. Wow, to be able to bring smiles to the faces of those around and joy to those whom we don't even know. It was a hot day, not everything was grand on this Wednesday and yet in that moment, all that was gone and smiles did abound between people of different backgrounds.
I tried the clown thing years ago and enjoyed making people smile, mostly kids, and now I find out my own kids are scared of clowns. Amazing! So now, no makeup, no balloon animals and no big shoes, but still a desire to bring that same joy to others that this man did. His background is one who brings gift, however temporary as they tend to be broken or forgotten by next year. He comes once a year, we get excited about a month prior in anticipation and we wish even those we do not know a Merry Christmas or Happy Holidays.
Which brings me to this..... How can we claim to have received the greatest gift of all, from One that is always there for us, and yet we can't share at least a smile with each person we meet on a daily basis or even a helping hand to those in need. We tend to be caught up with the things that we believe make us happy instead of understanding that our happiness is in Him and He takes joy when we take care of "the least of these." Instead people who claim to be one thing and then talk about others bring joy to no one.
So the next time you pass someone that you don't know, make eye contact, and then share a smile or a hello. Don't wait for them to speak to you. I'll probably never be one of Santa's helpers, and may never clown again since it scares my own kids, but it is my daily goal without the superficial to actually bring joy to another each day of the life I have left and share that joy that has been given to me. Here's hoping you will too!!!
3 years ago
