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Sharing Stories This section of the Lynwood Village site is dedicated to those who are willing to share inspirational, funny, encouraging or simply plain stories. Most often, stories about people helping people inspire others to get involved in the lives of those that might need a helping hand. Other times, funny stories can bring a smile, and perhaps laughter so much needed in our lives. Do you know of someone in our community who is going through a crisis or difficult time and could use some assistance, or support? Contact us. We might be able to arrange a group of volunteers or come up with ideas to support our neighbors. Our
May 2001month's story had quite a response from people in the community.
Thank you to all of you who are participating
in the visits to the Retirement home. It is obvious to
anybody watching the smiling faces in the lobby that your visits
are very much appreciated. You can now view
pictures of the visits here. We invite you to write to us with your story and share it with the community. You can do so by sending your story via email: [email protected] or if you prefer it, you can drop it off at 25 Trevor Crs. mailbox. Read previous archived stories.
“A
Christmas Gift” With Christmas rapidly approaching, I find my days get shorter and shorter. For more than I plan and attempt to accomplish on my daily to-do list, it seems like certain things just keep dragging to my “tomorrow to-do list”. And going anywhere near a shopping center seems to infect me with the sense of rush so damaging when trying to let the true spirit of Christmas settle in my heart. Every year I find myself repeating: “Next year, you won’t make that same mistake! You’ll start planning things in July!!”…But it never happens. And so, when I find myself in the middle of this mist, I seem to feel there’s no other way to handle this precious season than to let the Christmas rush tug me in what seems a superfluous high-pressured season moving at a rapid motion through a calendar full of social-butterfly events. Today, however, I had to stop. No. My list is not completed. Far from that! And I am not giving up on what’s next to do. But I felt the urge to stop and think about how lucky I am to wake up every day. How lucky I am to have my family. How lucky I am to have the essentials of life and so much more! How lucky I am to be healthy! How lucky I am to have such good neighbors around. How lucky I am to have the friends I have. How lucky I am to have peace in my Country! But wait a minute. This is not about “luck” but rather about being blessed. Then, as I was meditating on it all I found myself staring at a pencil portrait of Jesus that I have near my desk. It all became so clear. He really gave me and us all, the best Christmas gift anyone can get already. His arrival to this world in such a humble way, His teachings, His blessings, His way of life and His death and resurrection was such a tremendous gift to us all. But let me focus in the present. All I have is not mine but His. All these gifts I find today in my life can be taken at any time. They are laid in my hands but my hands must remain opened because they can be taken when I least expect it. My life, my family, my friends, my neighbors, my health, my job, my home, …How often do I wake up and not realize how blessed I am for having one more day with all these precious gifts. So, if someone asks me, “What do you want for Christmas this year?” I’d say: that Jesus continues to bless me with life, with my family, with my friends and neighbors, with good health…but specially to learn to be grateful for it all, to know how to keep my hands open if these precious gifts must come to an end, to learn to better share them with others, to put my gifts in action to help those who need me, to better become a true instrument of love and peace and to learn to see Jesus in all whom I encounter in my life. Merry Christmas to all! By: Miriam Mas |