THIS weekend our family Christmas tree assumed its rightful spot of dominance in our living room. Interspersed among the lyrics of holiday music welcoming a white Christmas there were the shouts of joy as we were reunited with the ornaments that bedazzle our tree in homespun glory. The floor below the branches is currently bare, but past experience informs me that eventually it will be bulging and overflowing with a bright and beautiful array of packages. Each Christmas morning, I find myself overwhelmed by the blessings that are mine, for, much as the packages under my tree, these life-blessings bulge and overflow in a bright and beautiful array. The spaghetti- stained faces across the dinner table, the messy house that needs to be cleaned, the husband who left his computer bag in the middle of the floor after work, the friends who kept me up late talking, the community of faith that needs my service, all of them adding deeper definitions to words like "wealthy" and "rich". 

In this holiday season when our focus can easily turn to price tags and credit cards, it is good to be reminded of the true gifts. It is also good to be mindful of those who have less than we do. There are homes among us where the holidays scream in silence. There are mothers among us who wish for a dinner that brings a messy face. There are children among us who dream of belonging to someone. Would you allow me to remind us all that we have an abundance from which we can do for others when they cannot do for themselves? 

 
My work often brings me into contact with the poorer strata of Bulgarian society. One afternoon I stood in the playground of a Roma school outside of Sofia, the January wind sent daggers through my body. As I observed the children playing around me, a sudden, sickening realisation sunk into my soul: none of the children wore proper winter coats. In a recent conversation with a Roma mother who sends her children to school, she was asked, "What would stop the children from going to school?".  Her answer: "My children go to school unless they do not have shoes in the winter."  Cold reality has a way of chilling those cosy images of a jolly man in a red suit with a bag of toys for "every boy and girl".

"The children shall lead them," a great rabbi once said.  That seems to be the case here in Sofia for it is the youth of the city who are mobilising to meet the needs of those less fortunate this holiday season.  Even Scrooge himself would experience a softening of emotion at the effort being made to share joy this holiday season.

Both the Anglo American School of Sofia and the American English Academy have held "Harvest Drives" in October and November to provide food, clothing, and money for at-risk or underprivileged groups.  The Anglo American School adopts a variety of groups ranging from orphanages to homes for the elderly and pairs them with classrooms of students. The American English Academy has chosen one school to focus upon this year.  Both of these international schools have a long history of giving and their school communities, students and families have brought in significant amounts of help across the years. However, they go a step further in that they not only gather donations, they also deliver much of it themselves, experiencing the fullness that comes with giving from the heart. Several other International and Bulgarian schools are getting into the heart of the season by adopting charity organisations, these schools include the Erich Kastner School (German), ESPA (Bulgarian) and Meridian 22 (Bulgarian). These schools report that their student bodies look forward to the opportunity to give.  

The "Angel Tree" programme has been adopted by the American English Academy and by the Anglo American School as a means for providing Christmas gifts for children who would probably not be receiving anything for the holidays. This programme allows the student and their family to buy a nice and personal gift for one child. Imagine the joy on Christmas or New Year morning!! The director of one of the recipient schools this year was quoted as saying, "Thank you for what you are doing.  Nobody has ever done anything like this for these children." 

The students, families, and administrations of schools turning their focus to sharing joy for the holiday season are to be applauded. You remind us that we are abundantly blessed and you challenge us to give from our hearts and to focus on the important things of life.  Thank you for leading the way! 

In the midst of gift bags and glittery paper, could we take a moment to ponder the reality of our situation? Right here in Bulgaria, there are children without coats and shoes, families without homes, schools without heat, and so many with hungry stomachs. There are avenues to help, organisations that would gladly receive and deliver the bounty which we could provide. 
It should also be mentioned that children benefit greatly from being part of the "giving processes". Studies show that it is important for their development as responsible citizens. It is also most beneficial when the act of giving is modelled for them by significant adults in their life. There are several great articles on the internet that deal with how to make giving gifts a meaningful part of the holidays for children. 

I hope that we are all challenged by the wonderful example set by several of our Sofia schools and that we are motivated by the obvious need that is all around us, to give from our abundance in order to enrich someone else this holiday season. May you be encouraged as the gift of giving takes its rightful spot in our hearts this season.

Useful articles:
Naughty or nice: kids at the holidays  www.webmd.com
Parents can teach kids giving is better than getting www.news.ifas.ufl.edu
It's never too early to begin teaching children the giving side of Christmas www.fww.org

Get involved, make contact
Charity contacts:
International Women's Club- www.iwc-sofia.com
The Red Cross - Tel: 02/660208 or 02/650249
Nova Nadejda (New Hope) (for invalids)- Tel: 02/9293445
Blind Society - Tel: 02/211861
NCM-BG (Christian charity) - Tel: 9270542