Light in the Midst of It All: The Quiet Miracles of Christmas Giving

By Stephen C. Schultz

I turned on the news and heard stories of a recent mall shooting in Oregon, sexual abuse involving a government official’s intern, companies going bankrupt, and families losing their jobs. There are parents separating, teens turning to drugs, and entire communities feeling “entitled” to a certain standard of living. On the surface, it can all seem pretty bleak.

And yet, I also witness the “Good Samaritans” who quietly reach out to help others. I see food banks that somehow receive just enough turkeys at Thanksgiving. I hear about “Sub for Santa” and “Toys for Tots” campaigns that instill hope in families and protect the innocence and imagination of children. There is nothing quite like bringing a smile to a child’s face, it has a way of restoring hope in all of us.

During this holiday season, I invite you to share examples of that have crossed barriers of language and economics to forever change the life of a little one. In a world that can sometimes feel heavy, these stories remind us that light, generosity, and goodness are still very much alive.

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The Interpreted Rock

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