CoolPeopleCare®

When I think of Christmastime, I think of family back in South Carolina, food, beautiful music, and my oldest brother (whose birthday actually is on Christmas Day).

But of all the Christmas memories that I hold dear, the one I cherish most involves my dad. A pastor whose job literally never stops, my dad would get up extra early each Christmas morning, and before eating a single holiday treat or opening any presents, he made his way to the Spartanburg County hospitals, armed with sugar cakes, snowflakes we had cut from paper, and plenty of Christmas joy.

I never really understood what my father was doing those Christmas mornings. Why would anyone want to leave a tree full of gifts and a fire in the fireplace to go visit sick people? After all, isn't Christmas meant to be spent at home with family?

Then, one year, I decided to join my dad. I was seventeen years old, and my grandmother who was dying of Alzheimer's disease was in the Geriatric Psychiatric Ward of Mary Black Memorial Hospital. I asked my dad if I could accompany him on his hospital visits so that I could see my grandmother that Christmas morning. He looked at me with a smile and said, "Sure. You hand out the snowflakes and we'll make this a team effort."

We drove through the empty streets of Spartanburg and pulled up in front of the hospital. As we walked into the lobby, I was amazed to see doctors and nurses scurrying about as if it were just a normal day. The hospital was decorated with wreaths and lights, and cheery music piped over the loudspeakers – but otherwise, there would have been no indication that this was a holiday.

We made our way through the halls of the hospital, greeting staff and patients alike. As we knocked on doors with a hearty, "Merry Christmas!" eyes lit up. I visited with an elderly woman who burst into tears and told me what a blessing it was to have a visitor on Christmas. I sang "Jingle Bells" with children who were cooped up in the waiting room. And my dad did the best impersonation of Santa Claus I have ever seen (seriously - his "Ho! Ho! Ho!" is very convincing!)

Before the morning was over, we had visited church members, families, old and young - all people from our community who, for one reason or another, were spending Christmas in a hospital room. I learned that day that the world doesn't stop just because it's Christmas. People still have emergencies, people still suffer, and caretakers still go to work.

Spending Christmas mornings with my dad has become a father-daughter holiday tradition. Even when I am out of town on Christmas Day, we always find the time during the preceding week to get in the car with a box of sugar cakes and a pile of snowflakes to visit hospitals and shut-ins. Every year, I am reminded that the most beautiful gift to be exchanged is the gift of human connection. Visiting those who are ill, injured, or lonely is as much a gift to us as it is to those we see. The spirit of Christmas is meant to be shared. Spreading the joy is a simple gift that will touch the hearts of all who are involved.

Make this Christmas different and round up your family and friends and visit a hospital, a homeless shelter, a nursing home, or somewhere else people are on Christmas (and every other day during the year).
Browse our calendar to find local opportunities to share the gift of human connection.