It's a Jolly Holiday

I've been in the Christmas spirit since November 25th (for adjective-laden details, see my last post).  Since then there has been the Messiah at the Lincoln Center, decorating the house with my dear roommates, singing "What Child is This" with AM at the McLean Music Fireside, and watching A Christmas Carol at Ford's Theatre.  Tonight, it's a community production of It's a Wonderful Life. 

Surprisingly, the cheer has not fled as I've entered my work building every day.  I have a sparkly silver tree with white lights and olivewood ornaments sitting on my desk.  All of my coworkers exclaim over it, and I have to admit it is very cheery!  But something that cheered my heart the most occurred last week. 

One of my company's best traditions is to provide a holiday party for the Wounded Warriors at Walter Reed Hospital.  The party is funded by donations from my fellow coworkers.  I had tallied the piles of donations and the total came to $19,965.  Impressive as that was, it just didn't seem right to be $35 short of $20K!  So I took it to my boss and she agreed that we should try for a little more.  All it took was one cheery email from my boss' boss to the 6th floor, asking if we could make the threshold, and coworkers popped by the rest of the day, opening their wallets and writing checks!  Yes, I had to keep tallying and re-tallying, but my holiday mood soared with each addition.  We ended up collecting far more than $35 - several hundred more! 

I think of the sacrifices of the servicemen and women at Walter Reed and around the world and I know that our donation is a small thing.  But... it is something.  It shows our gratitude for what they have given us.

This verse from "In the Bleak Midwinter" by Christina Rossetti captures my thoughts on giving.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man, I would do my part.
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.