The joy of giving at Christmas - and all year round

Life's Like That by Yvonne Holt

Christmas comes round and for some it holds good memories, for others it is a time for wonderment in the meaning of Christmas.

A lot of parents and grandparents had the pleasure of watching their offspring do the nativity play at school, some for the first time.

The reality of celebrating the birth of a new baby, with angels and shepherds, all being played out by little children, who have practiced with their teachers for weeks, delighted and united parents of all ages. The message of love was clear.

I was fortunate enough to be born into a loving family, who understood the meaning of caring for one another and respecting other people.

Each year around the time of Christmas, my parents would be wrapping parcels for us to take to a children’s home.

It was about a mile away from where we lived and we walked there with my mother and were warmly welcomed on arriving.

My mother, brother and older sister carried huge bags of gifts. I was six years old at the time and I went with them while Dad stayed at home to look after the baby. 

In those days there was no such thing as television, and we were happy to be shown into the lounge where about 18 children of various ages were playing and talking.

Mrs Mills and other carers told them that my parents had bought gifts for them.

My mother placed the bags down for the carers to open and we mingled with the children and talked. I had been warned not to ask questions about why they all lived in this big house.

I had been told some of them were orphans because they had lost their parents during the war. I was a happy six year old and listened to every word my mother said.

Unknown to me, during the year my parents found out about the children in the home and made a point of seeing what they needed. My father was in the clothes trade and several times he helped out by providing any shortfall, which was often the case. Children grew up fast.

My mother asked Mrs Mills to get them to sit down and write what they would like for a Christmas present, and to put their names on it. It was later I understood how everyone had a gift with their name on it.

My parents were the nicest, and friendliest of people. They were not judgemental, possibly because they had lived through two wars and lost many relatives and friends. We were raised to love and learn and be independent, knowing that all the support of our family was there.

Now looking back, I wish my parents were here, yet I know with the many years of fund raising I and all of you who have helped the different causes we have supported along the way, and are still doing, we are on the right road.

I have spent a lot of time working with volunteer workers in many different areas, all with a happy selflessness and enjoying the time they put in. It makes life so much easier, remember it is far better to give than receive.

On behalf of those who cannot thank YOU, for all your good work, I wish you Love and Happiness and ‘All the Best for Christmas and the New Year Ahead.’