The holidays hold an awful lot of magic and memories for me. From watching old black and white movies to untangling clusters of Christmas lights, it possesses the astonishing ability to charge up my ol’ Christmas spirit. But as a state senator, there doesn’t seem to be a lot of free time for much of that these days.
There are days the grittier, everyday business of state politics sucks that joy right out of me. It’s a challenge not to become jaded and as we all deal with the holiday rush. When I
started writing last week, I was geared toward exposing recent political boondoggle. I usually reserve my thoughts for observations about the spirit of the season, but wasn’t seeing it.
I tried Christmas music, drove around to look at lights, and stared at our own Christmas tree into the dark hours of the night. Nothing happened. I watched one of my favorite films,
It’s a Wonderful Life, with hopes it might jolt a sympathetic Christmas message out of me. The movie stresses human goodness, the story of a man whose own interests take a back seat to his helping others.
When was the last time Hollywood produced a film about an everyday, self-sacrificing, family man whose only reward was his own sense of gratitude? Where have all the George Baileys gone? Selflessness is a rare commodity today and in government, some would say it’s extinct. Can it be that in a world where everything is spun and marketed, integrity and righteousness just no longer have a place?
I watched until “an angel gets his wings”— then retired for the night as I had a long day ahead of me. The next morning I set out with my staff to collect some donations for the annual Holiday Toy Drive benefiting children at Winthrop-University Hospital. We were bowled over by the generosity of time and spirit that was waiting for us. We were met by dozens of children, parents and educators eagerly waiting to send more than 2,000 new toys to kids at Winthrop. We dropped off a mountain of toys to families who could not have been more thankful.
It became apparent that these were much more than playthings for families. Good, self-sacrificing people still exist. Here were the George Baileys I was seeking. Here was the spirit of Christmas.
As your Senator, you allow me to deliver Christmas cheer and the hope that comes with it. I get the benefit of soaking in all the goodness as a result of your kindness. On behalf of all of us who benefit from kindness and charity, including those children and families who’ll be spending their holidays in the hospital, I offer you our sincerest gratitude.
And for those of you whose quiet kindness, like George Bailey, goes unrecognized or is intentionally anonymous, I especially thank you during this holiday season. God bless you, one and all.
Merry Christmas, Happy Hanukkah and have a happy holiday.
