good deeds....

We finally got to have our Christmas with the girls this weekend. Everyone seemed pleased with their presents but the best gift I received didn't come with a bow around it. They had barely gotten into the house when my 14 year old niece announced that she had a gift for me with a grin on her face. She proudly told me about finding a wallet and returning it to its owner. Then my 8 year old niece chimed in with her own good deed story. They both seemed so proud of themselves and they should be.

You don't have to know me well to know I always ask for a small piece of world peace for my birthday and Christmas. I really don't want or need any more stuff, just proof that you're doing your part to make this world a better place. Seeing two of my youngest nieces following through with my request meant the world to me. Don't get me wrong, they are good girls and they would have done the right thing regardless of my request but it sure was nice seeing their smiling faces as the told me about my gifts. Even though I know they do good deeds throughout the year, I suppose by asking them to prove it to me, I'm hoping they'll recognize the opportunities we all over look everyday to improve someone else's life. It's so easy to toss your spare change into a donation bucket at the convenience store and never really think about what a difference your pocket change might make to the person who's picture is on that bucket.

Maybe if we took a few moments to think about the effects of a good deed, we'd do more of them. Let's face it, it's hard not to get a warm and fuzzy feeling when you help someone else...you can't help but feel blessed when you realize how difficult some people's lives are in comparison to yours. So little can do so much.

So somewhere a guy is counting his blessings because a young girl returned his nearly-lost wallet and a little girl is enjoying new clothes bought for her by another little girl just a couple years older than her....priceless...and I got what I wanted for Christmas!

And P.S., I'm still waiting on a few of you who promised me a good deed for my birthday...you know who you are!