‘Tis the season

photo from snovalleystar.com

Tis the season to feel bombarded by so many in need.  I don’t know about you, but I can find myself getting a little overwhelmed because I want to help everyone.  It makes me sad to realize that I can’t.

Toys-for-Tots. Veterans Home.  Local food pantry. Juvenile Home. Mel Trotter Ministries.  Salvation Army kettle ringers.  Adopt-a-family.

These are the groups that I’ve tried to do a little something for already.

But .. something hit me the other night as I was cleaning off my car and getting ready to leave work.  I noticed my co-worker’s car parked next to mine,  buried in about 6″ of snow & ice.  The snow was still falling and I had places to be. I was leaving and she was still working.  I thought about the fact that she doesn’t get around as easily as I do.  “Oh what the hell,” I thought. My car was going to need another few minutes to warm up anyways so I took the time to dust the snow off her car. Then, I really got into and scraped the ice off her windows, too.  And, as I did this, I smiled. A lot. I pictured the look on her face when she came out to her car later that night and found that someone had done this for her.  I happily got into my car and went on my way.

That little gesture cost nothing.    It took little effort. It felt … wonderful. I felt wonderful.

Times are tough, money’s tight, and unemployment benefits are being cut for many.  You can do something to help others this season and it doesn’t have to break your piggy bank.

So … I’ll continue to drop spare change into the Salvation Army kettle and I’ll buy a few extra groceries and gloves for a hungry family. No problem-o.

But..  I’ll also smile and say “no worries” when someone else is stressed and rushed and needs to cut in front of me…  and I’ll leave a little bit more in the coffee worker’s tip jar. And I surely will continue to scrape off an ocassional ice encrusted car.

Why?

Because I can.