Who Says There Is No Christmas Spirit?

Something very interesting happened to me yesterday and I decided it was worth posting. I was driving in St. George and came to a stoplight near Walmart in Washington and a big truck pulled quite close to me. At first I thought perhaps this individual wants to move over to my lane, but as I looked up, a young man was motioning for me to open up my window. I did so thinking they might need directions to someplace, but as I rolled down the window, he handed me an envelope and wished me Merry Christmas and drove away!

I was a little nerveous to open up the envelope because you hear all the negative stuff about laced stickers etc. but I opened it anyway. To my GREAT surprise there was a card with the following message: People are unreasonble, illogical and self-centered, LOVE THEM ANYWAY. If you do good, people will accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives, DO GOOD ANYWAY. If you are successful, you win false friends and true enemies, SUCCEED ANYWAY. The good you do will be forgotten tomorrow, DO GOOD ANYWAY. Honesty and frankness make you vulnerable, BE HONEST AND FRANK ANYWAY. What you spent years building may be destroyed overnight, BUILD ANYWAY. People really need help but may attack you if you help them, HELP PEOPLE ANYWAY. Give the world the best you have and you'll get kicked in the teeth, GIVE THE WORLD THE BEST YOU'VE GOT ANYWAY. (found written on the wall in Mother Teresa's home for children in Calcutta).

In addition to the message there was a one $100 bill. I wasn't sure if it was real but felt pretty good about getting the message anyway. The sceptic that I am, I went to the bank and asked if they could check for the authenticity of the bill. Sure enough, it was real!

Well, I have always believed in paying it forward, so I got five $20 bills and copied the message on a card and I have them ready to hand out today in the rain. As Ron and I have everything we need, I decided, instead of keeping or spending the $100, to give it away and make someone's day.

As it has been a tough year for many, we still have been blessed with more than others may have. I don't feel I am doing this because I am such a great person - believe me, I have been tempted to just get the money out of the envelopes and go buy something fun or unnecessary or whatever...and just hand out the cards! But that is not how I see it - experiencing giving is a great feeling. I know when my kids were small, we were given plenty through the church or other people when we were having a hard time during Christmas or other times. It is my turn now to be on the giving end.

May all of us have a blessed Christmas and remember the people who have been there for us - either in our time of need moneteraly or spiritually or emotionally. It all counts and I hope I will always be reminded of this special day when I want to whine about not having enough.