Twenty-Four Gifts

This isn't a Christmas tradition yet, but I hope it will be. Recently, I read a book titled, Twenty-Nine Gifts: How a Month of Giving Can Change Your Life, by Cami Walker. In it, she describes how focusing on others through one planned, kind gesture a day -- a note, a phone call, a listening ear -- helped her manage the excruciating symptoms of multiple sclerosis. That got me thinking. Several months ago, we visited some friends at their cottage. When we arrived, we were greeted with the refrigerator message above. That small gesture spoke volumes to me, and set the tone for a lovely visit.

Anyone can afford to give the gift of thoughtfulness. What would happen, if for the 24 days leading up to Christmas, every member of my family (and yours) could plan a kind gesture for someone each day? What would Christmas look like, then? When I pick up my son from school today, I will ask him, "What gift did you give today?" And be assured, I'll need to be prepared with an answer to the same question.