| OCR Text |
Show A B6 Davis County Clipper DavisEntertainment Thursday, December 25, 2003 Sharing, caring, service especially fine at Christmas so maybe I was a edgy After all. I was 19, and it was my first Christmas away from home, and I was leelmg a little . . . you know . . . empty Besides, I think the weather in San Diego was starting to get to me. I mean, how much "balmy and beautiful can you take? Especially at Christmas Then I got a letter from The Girl Back I lome, which was usually great. Only this time she wrote about her Senior Prom. Sure, we said she should date others while 1 was gone. But couldn't she has e just gone to the stupid dance and not told OK, me? And then to top it off. my rommate Dennis and I went to do a little shopping, and the Santa at the mall was wearing -are you ready for this? -Bermuda shorts. Bermuda shorts, for Petes sake! No wonder we were both so uptight. We wandered around the mall, completely surrounded by the sights and sounds of the season. and totally oblivious to them. It was Christmas, but we werent feeling Christmasy. At least, not until we noticed a little girl standing by one of Santa's elves, sobbing. For no particular reason 1 drifted over and asked if everything was OK. Shes lost, the elf said, but I cant leave. Could you help her find her Mom? I low could we say no - espeChristmas? at cially t S By So Dennis and I each took a little hand in ours. We made a quick run through the shopping center - including a stop at the candy store. Outside the managers office we connected with a frantic mother, who offered a monetary reward foi our efforts. No thanks." said Dennis, who was smiling as happily as I had seen him smile all da Abu just have a Merry Christmas, OK? That simple act of service infused both of us with such joyful energy we started looking lor others to help. We found shoppers who needed help carrying gifts to their cars. We stood in line to see Santa with two kids while their mom slipped into the toy store. I even tried on pants for a woman who WTBS DECEMBER 26, 2003 FRIDAY EVENING SATURDAY MORNING SATURDAY AFTERNOON i " DECEMBER 27, 2003 DECEMBER 27, 2003 Joseph Walker (5 30) Boiler Room "(2000) SUNDAY MORNING insisted I was the same size as her son. Dennis and I chatted excitedly as we drove away from the shopping center that evening. We had discovered what was missing from Christmas, and it didnt have anything to do with snow, senior proms or Bermuda shorts. The quickest way to minimize our own burdens and concerns, we decided, was to lighten someone elses. So we spent the rest of the holiday season looking for ways to help people. Usually it was just little stuff. Occasionally it required creativity, like the man who wanted his kids to receive a phone call from Santa - and me with a voice still emerging from puberty. But always it had more to do with giving of our Law & Order Law & Order selves than of our means. And you know what? It was the best Christmas I ever had -even though I cant for the life of me remember a single gift that I received. Of course, what seemed like such a revelation to us is really something that others have understood for centuries. Christmas isn't about presents -it's about giving. And it doesnt come from the wallet or the purse - it comes from the heart. The Christmas Spirit was first kindled hundreds of years ago in a lowly stable as a result of a div me gift of love. We honor and keep that Spirit best through our own commitment to caring, sharing and service to each other. And not just at Christmas. Law & Order Law & Order DECEMBER 28, 2003 |
