Christmas giving

At the activity we had many, many bags full of Hershey's kisses.

That was partly because we discovered about 150 vellum bags that had been bought for something, maybe around fourteen years ago. I think they bought around 200. There were two different sizes, so it was probably 100 of each, but then they only used around 50.

There were a couple of bags that still had some kisses and Andes mints in them, but they were very old and waxy.

While being very willing to use up the budget we have, we don't want to waste anything, 

Knowing that these envelopes were available, but also thinking about ministering and giving, we ended up filling all but seven of the bags with kisses, which were fortunately on sale.

At the activity they were something that the attendees could take for themselves, but also for the sisters they minister to, but also to anyone who could use a little boost, or even if you didn't know yet who was going to need a little boost, because there will always be people.

As I have been writing about ministering over the past few weeks, you generally can't fix people's problems; you can show love and caring and remembrance.

There are many ways that can happen.

I got to spend some time over the holidays with an old friend. Chocolate gives her migraines, so giving her one of those bags would not have been a sign of caring. However, we also talked and I had some ideas for an issue that was happening in her family. I will be helping with that.

Last night we were able to do some shopping for a friend who has a lot going on. It wasn't a gift of money, because she paid for the items. What she really needed was to not have to expend that time and energy. That was something we could give.

In a household of older people (and kind of picky ones at that), we don't make a point of buying things and wrapping them up for each other. That was a big part of our childhood, and we tried various types of exchanges as we got older, but we have settled into something different.

Still, sometimes there is a desire to do more. Then there may be baking sprees or get-togethers or something different, just to make sure that there aren't any doubts about the affection or commitment.

Then -- especially in times like these -- there can be thoughts about what to do for society or the environment, and how we want to go forward. 

Those are things that I am thinking about now, and hope to write about more.

I can give some other food for thought.

Gifts by Ralph Waldo Emerson:

https://literaturepage.com/read/emersonessays2-75.html 

Christmas-Giving and Christmas-Living by Henry Van Dyke

https://www.clausnet.com/articles/literature/christmas-giving-and-christmas-living-r100/