Smiles Really DO Beget Smiles!
Most of last week (i.e. Dec. 8-11), smiles begot smiles in the gymnasium of our Catholic Center. Fortunate to be an observer of what played out there, I expected some of them; others made me thank God.
During those four days, the Catholic Center gym hosted the 2014 edition of Catholic Charities’ Christmas Giving Program.
Because the communications office is a minute-or-so walk from the gym, Laura Chandley of Catholic Charities texted me when photo opportunities presented themselves. “There’s a big truck unloading here,” was one example. That text led to the photo we published on the front page of the Dec. 12 issue.
Spending at least a little bit of time in the gym every day made it easy to prove the statement in the headline of this column – smile really DO beget smiles.
As mentioned in the lead paragraph, I saw a lot of smiles I expected – on the faces of those who arrived to pick up gifts just for them and their families. Some entered the gym saying "thank you" and never stopped – at least, not while they were in the building.
One woman, in particular, left an impression I won’t soon forget. She walked in and gave Chandley the number (anonymity is a big part of the program) Catholic Charities had assigned her family. When she saw that it took a couple of people to get all the gifts, she immediately went into “keep it together” mode.
Clearly, she wanted to burst into tears. I suspect some folks did during the pick-up days – and I suspect that she did, after she left. She just couldn’t hide the emotion swelling up in gratitude for the Christmas that would be.
We talk a lot about “the reason for the season.” We bemoan the commercialization of our Savior’s birthday. And yes … the beneficiaries of the Christmas Giving Program got gifts and presents that – some would suggest – didn’t have a place in that first Christmas.
I disagree.
God the Father bestowed the first gift on His only begotten Son – a great, bright star in the east to herald His arrival … for all to see. He followed that with a legion of angels who visited shepherds to proclaim Jesus’ birth, and to fill a lowly stable with heavenly light and grace.
Those shepherds brought the gift of their time and devotion … coming to see and pay respects to this awesome baby born in such a plain, ordinary place. Soon, wise men arrived – bearing gold, frankincense and myrrh.
When Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem with no place to stay … and Mary in labor … they had no reason to expect so much as a place to stay, let alone gifts worthy of the Son of God.
They received so much – from angels and shepherds and the magi, all smiling as they gazed upon the baby Jesus.
During the first two days of the Christmas Giving Program, those who had adopted families delivered the gifts they had purchased and festively wrapped after getting lists Catholic Charities facilitated with the families. I didn’t see anyone arrive without a smile; I didn’t see anyone leave without a smile.
They invested time, money and thought into their participation in the program – and they clearly spent big amounts of passion and compassion, probably without realizing it. Those are the smiles that serve as the collective reason to thank God.
Their smiles did, indeed, beget the smiles that flooded the gym on the gift-pickup days. Almost 400 children served through this program by Catholic Charities had a Christmas not unlike Jesus’ first day on earth.
Like Him, they probably would benefit by a “better” place to lay their heads and sleep. Maybe some are hungrier than they’d prefer; maybe some are colder. But on Christmas Eve and Christmas morning, they will find gifts that assure them they are loved.
And they will smile … the sweetest smiles of all.
Merry Christmas!
