At Christmas

At Christmas

"A man is at his finest towards the finish of the year;

He is almost what he should be when the Christmas season is here;

Then he's thinking more of others than he's thought the months before,

And the laughter of his children is a joy worth toiling for.

He is less a selfish creature than at any other time;

When the Christmas spirit rules him he comes close to the sublime.

When it's Christmas, man is bigger and is better in his part;

He is keener for the service that is prompted by the heart.

All the petty thoughts and narrow seem to vanish for awhile

And the true reward he's seeking is the glory of a smile.

Then for others he is toiling, and somehow it seems to me

That at Christmas he is almost what God wanted him to be.

If I had to paint a picture of a man, I think I'd wait

Till he'd fought his selfish battles and had put aside his hate.

I'd not catch him at his labors when his thoughts are all of self,

On the long days and the dreary when he's striving for himself.

I'd not take him when he's sneering, when he's scornful or depressed,

But I'd look for him at Christmas when he's shining at his best.

Man is ever in a struggle and he's oft misunderstood;

There are days the worst that's in him is the master of the good,

But at Christmas, kindness rules him and he puts himself aside,

And his petty hates are vanquished and his heart is opened wide.

Oh, I don't know how to say it, but somehow it seems to me

That at Christmas man is almost what God sent him here to be."

- by Edgar A Guest

This year, we took time to plan our month of December to include service projects and we tracked what we did each day of the month on a calendar. It was a great experience to put aside our petty hates and offer our time and talents to others.

Joseph reading a Christmas card to a nursing home resident

#Lighttheworld