Share Your Christmas

I was late to the tables where poster boards with little slips of paper listed the name, sex and age of someone in Durham who social services knows is not going to get anything for Christmas. The slips of paper give precise suggestions of exactly what each person might want. Boy, aged six, a basketball, jeans size 8. Girl, age 13, puffy vest, socks, colored pencils. Man, age 72, pajamas, size large. 
For two decades our church has participated in the Durham Share Your Christmas. We take over 150 cases and ask anyone at church who feels inclined to pick a slip of paper and purchase gifts for one specific person. It is my favorite Christmas shopping. I don’t know the person, never will see them open the gift, won’t get a thank you, but I feel like it is the gift that makes the most difference.
This year I was late. Most of the slips of paper were taken. The ones for kids always go first. People feel like Christmas is mostly for kids and they certainly should not be without something on Christmas. All the young people were taken, and so were the very old. I looked at the boards and found a 58 year old woman whose slip was still available.  
I have taken middle aged women in the past. People usually don’t take them because they usually want things that are hard to buy for someone you don’t know, like work pants, blouse or sweater. The slip for this woman asked for nothing hard, just a set of twin bed sheets and a blanket from Walmart.
I thought about what it meant that the only thing she wanted was a set of twin bed sheets. She probably does not have a partner since she has a twin bed. She may not be warm enough since she wants a blanket. She does not ask for much, she certainly would use sheets and a blanket everyday.  
It was easy to get this present, but I wanted her to have a little more of a surprise, a little more joy, a little more Christmas than just sheets. I got her a gift card from Walmart since she specified that as her store, as well as the sheets and blanket.  
Christmas is not just for children. The promise of the Christ child is for us all. Everyone, no matter their age or place of life needs to know they are loved with a gift, no matter how small. There are so many organizations that provide gifts at Christmas for those in need, Toys for Tots, the Salvation Army and your local social services. If you have an elderly neighbor who lives alone, consider dropping a loaf of cranberry bread at their door with a note, or even better invite them to lunch. I promise you will feel the Christmas spirit.