The Ageless Christmas Project
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[1 Comment]When I was a young adult, every Christmas included a time to "share joy" with the residents of our local nursing homes. I was startled one year, though, when I overheard a resident talking with a friend.
"I don't like this one time attempt to take us back to the fun of Christmas in a three minute visit," she said. "Don't they know the feeling is gone once they leave the room? That we're lonely?"
That comment bothered me for years. Then after my children grew up and moved away, I felt some of that loneliness too—especially during the holidays. And I discovered many of my older friends had the same experiences. Precious women who lived states away from immediate family, struggling widows and spiritual mentors were suffering during this season of joy.
Christmas should be a holiday that celebrates families. As our world becomes more mobile, families are often torn apart and spread over thousands of miles. Some estimates suggest that more than 25 percent of Americans feel depressed or lonely. Most of those figures come from disjointed families and the elderly.
As children grow up and move away, the giggles that filled a home are replaced with a feeling of loss. The anticipation of a special day is replaced with the acceptance that it's just another day and another meal. Older parents and the elderly learn to replace the giggles of the past with an empty endurance of the present. I wanted to help my suffering friends, but how?
Relieving the Hurt
Several years ago I was ill and would have to endure a long recovery. My friends, Becky, Nila, Jane, and Kay lived 250 miles away and couldn't visit. They joined together and sent hope when I needed it most. A small box arrived at my door with a note: "Enclosed you will find 21 gifts. Open one a day and know that we're praying for you and that we love you very much!"
Every morning I sipped my coffee and felt pampered as I opened a present. The gifts were insignificant. They included a bag of M&M's, a candle, a small tube of hand cream, and a rubber band with a note attached that said, "Hope you spring back soon!" The anticipation of being pampered every day for a month helped me to heal both mentally and physically.
My friends had given birth to a wonderful idea. As the holidays approached I thought of others who might be hurting. A young mother who was overworked, a friend who was going through a divorce, an elderly woman who rarely saw her granddaughter, and a mother who lost her husband and adult son to cancer—all these women were hurting. What could I do to help them feel better? How could I help them through their pain? What would it take to bring the Christmas giggles of a small child back into their world?
I know the reason for the season doesn't include presents. Every hurting woman I wanted to help knew the reason for the season. They each celebrated Christmas as a spiritual event. But the joy of receiving presents—now that's a different story.
Related Topics:
Adventure, Friendship, Gratitude, Loneliness, Presents, Sharing Life, Support, Surprises
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