I love Christmas! My favorite thing about Christmas isn't the food, the visits with family or even getting presents. My favorite things are the lights on the tree, and seeing those lights in children's eyes when they know they've been good.
Sadly, too many children -- especially this year -- have been as good as they could be , but are unlikely to wake up to presents under the tree. Too many families have lost their income, and are barely able to keep a roof over their heads, or food on the table. Presents are the last thing in the budget, and that breaks my heart.
This is one of the reasons why I give a lot of my energy every year into the Marine Corps. Toys for Tots program. Our local chapter of the American Society of Safety Professionals (ASSP) usually hosts a toy drive at our December meeting each year. But with all the limitations we have to follow because of COVID we aren't meeting in person. So this year, our workplace hosted a safe and physically-distanced "drive through toy drop". Thanks to the generosity of our members and the community we filled six boxes with all kinds of wonderful toys and games. Hundreds of kids will wake up to a toy under the tree, at least one, if not more thanks to everyone who donated. That warms my heart to the core. To me, that is the Joy of Christmas.
Merry Christmas to all! And to all a good night ...
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