Recently I was watching my daughters play together; the day’s theme was Legos. In the back of my mind, the constant looming thoughts quietly murmured. They were thoughts concerning bills, debt, grocery shopping. It’s like a sore tooth that the tongue can’t help but agitate and it makes the murmurs a little louder.

I swatted at the thoughts. The girls were still playing, both kneeling on the floor with their tiny bare feet tucked under their butts. They were building a castle.

(Crap! The van’s power steering has been acting up again.)

I had to snap myself back and remind myself of our blessings. We have a roof over our heads. It’s cold outside, and our girls are inside with bare feet—they don’t need their socks – our Home is warm. My daughters will be going to bed with full and happy tummies. I truly have more than I don’t.

Some version of a Christmas Carol was on the TV. “Bob Cratchit…” I thought. “I’ve met that guy. He’s not a fictional character.” I frowned. “Bob Cratchit is my neighbor. Tiny Tim is my daughter’s classmate.”

He is your neighbor too. He is just a few blocks from you, sitting at his kitchen table staring at his bills. He takes in a shuddering breath as he wipes away a couple of escaped tears. His child just stepped into the kitchen and quietly asked what’s for supper. There’s a little too much hope in his child’s voice. They both know how empty the pantry is.

They need a miracle, and it’s an easy one.

I live in a small town. Over the last couple of weeks, our local food pantry registered nine new families to the Community Store. Nine families! Days before Thanksgiving! In our wealthy country, 1 in 5 children do not get enough to eat – a number that Blessings in Backpacks confirmed is accurate even in my little town.

It sickens me. It breaks my heart. These thoughts especially break my wife. She’s a recovering chef, starting a jam and pickle business, she is a feeder (anyone who meets me would quickly realize she is a feeder!). She is driven and motivated by images of a child going hungry.

This is a busy time of year, but it is also a generous time of year. I do everything I can to play my part year-round, doubling down during the holiday season. When I’m unable to donate my money or food, I donate myself and my time.

It’s not enough. I still fail. I will never be able to give as much I wish.

I have great respect for an earned dollar, and I begrudge no one their wealth. I would never think to dictate what anyone should do with their money. But I will urge everyone, the wealthy to the poor, to give as often as they can and as much as they can to the organizations that are dedicated to helping people in need.

Someone near you is suffering, Bob Cratchit lives, he is not a fictional character. He is behind you in the school pick up line. He just held the door for you. He needs your help. His children need your help.

If you find yourself in the fortunate situation of being able to buy one more Christmas gift, but cannot think of who to buy one for, again, I am urging you, to consider spending the money on non-perishables and leaving them at the local food pantry.

You might save Mr. Cratchit and Tiny Tim. You might (pretty likely in my small town), bump into them, and neither of you will know it was your donation that saved them. That’s a beautiful kind of ignorance.

“No space of regret can make amends for one life’s opportunity misused”

-Charles Dickens, A Christmas Carol

Please, consider your blessings and your talents, and think about how you can use them to make the world a better place.

God bless you this Holiday Season