Chrissie's great blog about family time at Thanksgiving highlights the importance of keeping traditions alive. One tradition my daughter and I have shared over the course of her lifetime is getting an angel from the Salvation Army Angel Tree and buying the gifts for our angel together.
This yeat the Angel Trees are divided into boys, girls, and nursing home residents. My daughter and I decided upon a teenager who lives in a nursing home. He is the same age as my son, my daughter's little brother. It took hardly any thinking to know that this was the angel we should get. What kept running through our minds was, in a different sitiation, this could be our little brother.
All he wanted was a ball cap, socks, and some after shave. We went to Hibbet Sports and picked out a Nike hat and several pairs of Nike socks. Then we went to Dillard's and Bath and Body works for some after shave and cologne. The clerks helped us eagerly, and let us know that they and their moms do the very same thing every year.
Getting an angel from the Angel Tree is evidently a big tradition on many people's lists. It is an easy way to teach one's children how to give back to those less fortunate than they are. It is also a great way to show them, and one's self, how very, very blessed our lives are.
I take my students to the Angel Tree, too, and have had so much fun with them at the mall, watching them pick out special gifts for a tiny little boy or girl who might cross paths with them at some time in the future. We never know when that little angel might grow up to be the person who saves our life with a blood donation or might go on to be our child or grandchild's teacher or doctor.
What goes around comes around, and as corny as it may sound, I think it is true. It may just be the luck of the draw, it could be the chaos theory in action, but I do believe that when we count our blessings and stop to consider how much we take for granted and give thanks for what we have been given, no matter how shabby or elegant it might be, our blessings multiply in unforseen ways. It's the being grateful that opens our eyes.
Your teenagers are not too old to go with you to get an angel off of the Angel Tree, in fact this is the best time to round them up and go. If they are looking for a school club project, you might also suggest this activity. It's a great way to help out another human being in the midst of holiday commercialization and it benefits someone right here at home.
Only HOW MANY days 'til Christmas?!
4 comments:
I always love doing this activity with my children. It gives immediate gratification and a sense of having watched one's child help someone he or she can only guess at via their description on the tag. I would recommend this as a family tradition for everyone. Too bad it happens only once a year.
Thanks Mel. It's easy to grab an angel and it makes the holiday. Just shop and deliver it back to the tree. There are two full trees of angel requests at Walmart. Santa needs lots of help this year. C
Thanks for letting me know there are two angel trees at Wal Mart this year. Since they have toys, that's where I am taking my students, so we can pick up everything at once! Thanks for that info!
Just wanted everyone to know I was by the Angel Tree at Arrowhead Mall this week and saw the Muskogee High School FFA manning the booth. What great kids and a great sponsor, Bruce Ragsdale!
Post a Comment