The Christmas Spirit

It's hard to believe that the Christmas holiday season is well underway already. I'm not quite sure where the year has gone, but it flew by. It seems that Summer arrived to Maine late this year. The entire month of June was rainy and cold. Warm weather didn't make it to us until the Month of July.  Now that we are here in the middle of the season, the days are getting shorter, the air getting colder and the mid-coast isolation is about to set in for the next few months. It's been hard to get into the Christmas spirit this year, mainly due to illness that I have not been able to shake for the last 3 weeks. I have, however, decorated the apartment with what I can, mainly for Orion. After all, that's what it's about, correct?  

The holiday season has been difficult for me since the separation and divorce. Although I am thrilled to be able to have my son during the holiday season, It's still a reminder to me that I am not going to be with him the entirety of it. I'll only get to see him excited for half of the holiday season. I make it a point to continue the traditions that I started with him when his mom and I were together. We set the Christmas tree up thanksgiving weekend, I let him pick out an ornament (this year it was the golden snitch from Harry Potter.) We watch all the usual Christmas movies. The Grinch, Frosty,  Rudolph, and the Muppet Christmas Carol. We do the Advent calendar and the call from Santa etc.   I know the important thing is the time I do spend with him, and the values that I instill in him is what matters. However for me, it comes down to having half the time with him. 

This year we did sponsor an elderly woman for Christmas. I wanted to do something with Orion that shows or solidifies the fact that you should do nice things for other people. The person we are sponsoring was through the place I work, and through the Salvation Army. One of those Christmas trees where you pick the tag off the tree and it tells you a little bit about the person and what they are asking for. I figured that all the little kids would be taken care of, and that the older folks would be looked past. So I decided to take the card for the 87 year old woman, who wanted a lap blanket and lotion. Orion and I took a trip to the store to pick out fleece fabric and lotion. We then made our lap blanket and I brought everything into work where the Salvation Army will come to pick up and distribute to The person we sponsored. While making the blanket I tried to explain to Orion that sometimes the elderly are on a limited income, or they may not have any surviving family, or family that want to visit them. I think he got the point.  It's nice to have a son that has as big of a heart as you do. It's a good thing to witness, and I will always love him for this. 

Today, while reading the Art of Living, this was one of the topics. I thought it was fitting. This is something that should be practiced through-out your daily life,and not just during the Christmas or holidays seasons. If you have the impulse to help a stranger or friend and family member out, then do it. Don't ignore it.