Making ripples of Christmas Spirit here in our corner of the world.

12 nights from tonight at this very hour, I along with many and many of you will be sitting home and feeling exhausted but exhilarated. You will have not only survived the chaos of Christmas, but many of you will have created a movement of ripples that will be cascading through our community and beyond. A movement of the ultimate Christmas Spirit that would make even the Scrooge cringe. Tonight is the first of twelve posts as I count my way toward the Hope and Friendship Christmas Dinner and Care Box Delivery Day to happen on Christmas Day.
This will be the 10th Hope and Friendship Christmas Dinner event and whether it be old age, experience, or determination to get to Christmas night, I can honestly say I am nothing but excited this year. I am impassioned, and I am determined to make this the very best Christmas Dinner for many, many dear friends.
Whether the thought and action of pulling together a Christmas Dinner causes stress, depression, and dread due to of lack of funds, ache of the heart from the loss of a loved one, knowing you’ll be spending it alone, or the inability to do so due to illness or physical disability, I stand solid on the belief that it is my calling, our calling together to meet this very basic need.
I believe reaching out to friends “who can” prepare and offer just one dish of potatoes, stuffing, veggies, pasta, rolls or dessert is not too much to ask for friends “who need” that gift of compassion, generosity and friendship.
I believe we can arrive at more than 70 doors on Christmas afternoon (we visited 72 last year) and have our hands extend to their hands a gift that will nourish body, spirit and heart.
I believe that there are enough friends who have that can join me in meeting basic needs of friends who have not, during this Christmas season and throughout the New Year.
I believe it won’t take giving until it hurts. You most likely won’t even feel the void of what you offer from your home, however, the impact of the void you fill for these households that receive these acts of compassion will be better from the action of your efforts and be lifted from your offerings from the heart.
Ripples will be created and the Christmas Spirit will resonate throughout our community and beyond in 12 days.
This I truly and passionately believe and I hope you’ll join in me in some form or way of making this movement of ripples the most powerful wave of kindness that this corner of the world has EVER felt. I believe we are capable of this. We’ve had 10 years of practice….we got this!
Wishing you peace & love,
Terri
terri@hopeandfriendshipfoundation.com
www.hopeandfriendshipfoundation.com