Published in the December 11-25 issue of Morgan Hill Life
This is the season of feast and fun. For more than a month during the winter holiday season, starting with the communal gorging at the Thanksgiving dinner table and ending with a midnight champagne party to toast in the New Year, many of us in the Morgan Hill region gather with our friends and family to celebrate our lives and good fortune.
This is also the season where we are too painfully reminded that not everyone we share our community with is assured that they can partake of the food and festivities during the holidays. Hunger exists in our community, as it does in many small towns and big cities throughout the United States. According to a 2013 report sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, last year 49 million Americans lived in food insecure households. That number included nearly 16 million children. Households with children experiencing food insecurity are at a significantly higher number rather than those without youngsters, 20 percent compared to 11.9 percent.
This is also the season of giving and generosity. Lots of us spend many hours and numerous dollars shopping at malls and boutiques in our yuletide quest for the perfect gifts to give friends and loved ones. We delight in seeing the joy in their faces as they unwrap their presents and discover what holiday treasures we spent time and money to add delight to their holiday season.
During this festive season, we encourage everyone to consider the true meaning of the winter celebrations. Those of us who have experienced good fortune in 2013 can get into the spirit of the season and bring a little more joy to families who might not know abundance. During this season, all of us can dial down the volume on spending on lavish gifts that delight for the moment, and look at the spiritual gifts we discover in ourselves when we help other people in need.
This is the season of children. And the greatest gift we can give the young people in our lives is to teach them the value of a generous heart. In many Morgan Hill households on Christmas morning, children greedily rip apart the wrapping paper of their presents and open numerous packages containing toys and clothes and electronic items. Often, they toss these gifts aside after a momentary glance and go searching under the Christmas tree for more presents bearing their name. It’s human nature in children to have a “gimme, gimme” attitude for the acquisition of momentary materialism. Instead, we can give youngsters a true and long-lasting spiritual gift when we teach them how to focus on enhancing the happiness of others.
During their holiday activities, local families would be wise to take an hour during the season to find gift items — and maybe even purchase a bag or two of much needed food —to share with those in our community who are truly needy. By having their children present these items to another family, moms and dads can instill the character of a generous spirit in their children. During their break from school, children can also take time away from their video games and other entertainments to write thank-you notes to people who have given them holiday gifts.
These simple activities will add genuine value to the holiday experience for young people. Most importantly, it will help boys and girls grow into caring and appreciative adults who can truly enjoy the feasts and fun of this spiritual season beyond a base material level.
