A baby goat "gift" - a flock of chickens "gift"

Heifer International

Whoops, blink, it's here again - holiday season in full swing - early Thanksgiving - black Friday - Hanukkah - you know - holiday tunes flood the stores and bright, twinkly lights adorn front room windows and lawns. "Merry and bright" - right?!

So, what is "merry and bright" going to be for me this year? Am I going to assist the Grinch in taking "m&b" from me? Will I try too hard for "m&b", is it only for children and not for us adults? Well, no the Grinch isn't capable of destroying "m&b" - the people of WhoVille taught us that - along with Charlie Brown and his little pals.

I might lose sight of "merry and bright"if I give in to fretting too much about finding the perfect gift, when I schedule too many tasks into too little time, when I'm certain that I'm responsible for keeping everyone in my little world's circle - "m&b." You see, don't you, that I'm preaching to myself right now. I've sort of finished my shopping, I'm poised to hit the post office early, and I think my family will enjoy their "just right" gifts..... my family will have "m&b" or at least as much as I can "control" that:) (Like I can control anything...when will I learn?)

But this year, I'm going for some extra "merry and bright" - that "m&b" has to do with the food pantry delivery that is in the back of my car, the list of items for the teenage foster child/children that have had no one searching for the perfect gift for them, the donation to Episcopal Relief and Development and the choice between chickens or goats from the Heifer International catalogue. I think I'm certain to find extra good "merry and bright" in these places.

Here's wishing your holiday season is filled with your own special "merry and bright" wherever you seek and find it! I know that all of us reading these blogs have experienced "m&b" sometime in our lives. This year maybe we can all think about spreading "m&b" to persons who may just need that extra that we can give.