It’s that time of year again. Belts expand. Snow falls. And fields are alive with the sound of hunters.
At our house, we look forward to the anticipated gathering of our children, grandchildren, and others we care about. And there are a bunch of them. Unfortunately, some are scattered to the four winds.
Our eldest daughter, Polly, her husband and two children are living in Charlotte, North Carolina. This year their son is playing football and has practice and games during the Thanksgiving season. And with their family’s schedules, we do not yet know about Christmas.
Our youngest son, Will, lives in Pittsburgh – not so far away. The genes he inherited from me are showing, as he is taking a day or so off for each of Thanksgiving and Christmas, and then he is working the remainder of the time.
Our foster daughter, Kathleen, her husband and two children are close by in Waynesboro, PA. That is one for the home team.
Our youngest daughter, Maggie, lives in California. A team of bulked up reindeer could not keep that girl away. She is coming home for both Thanksgiving and for Christmas – along with her husband and an expected child.
Then there is our eldest son, Chris. He lives in Philadelphia. He is married and has three beautiful children. His wife is a grand cook and along with my wife makes meals an absolute adventure and a joy. The problem for them is that they live between her parents to the east and us to the west. Share and share alike.
Our second eldest daughter, Katie, lives in Chambersburg. She did not fly far from the nest, and she lives right around the corner from us.
I mention all of this, because I am sure that many are discovering the same thing. Getting older. Children all grown up, situated here and there, and there and there, living their own lives, experiencing their own families and being pulled in the same directions that we were pulled when we were younger ourselves.
Yet, we have received a wonderful blessing. It is one reason that I feel grateful around this time of year, even when our children are scattered across the country.
Over the years we have been presented with a number of special opportunities to take an interest in children and other young people. Kids who are not ours. The kind that do not have both a Mom and a Dad. Sometimes neither. Or they can just use someone in their lives to offer them a bit of guidance, help with school, a listening ear and a helping hand.
We have looked after and supported a number of these kids, and as they have grown up, some now call me Dad. Not because they have to, but because they want to.
Some of them will be at our home during the holidays this year.
Of all the reasons to be grateful, for us, this is the one that touches our hearts the most.
There is a saying that a man is never so tall as when he stoops to help a little child. The words are believed to have been said by Abraham Lincoln. But if he didn’t say them, he should have. Because it is those words that have enriched our lives.
So, tonight when you say a prayer, think of my family and yours, no matter where they live, or where you or they may be traveling. Be thankful for all of the people in your life for whom you care, and know that you are truly blessed when that care is returned with love.
Bill Gindlesperger is a central Pennsylvanian, Dickinson College graduate, Pennsylvania System Of Higher Education (PASSHE) Governor, former Shippensburg University Trustee, awarded numerous patents, as well as Founder and Chairman of eLynxx Solutions. eLynxx provides cloud-software for automated sourcing and managing of mail marketing, swag, packaging, and all things print. He is a board member, campaign advisor, successful entrepreneur, published author and commentator. He can be reached at Bill.Gindlesperger@eLynxx.com.
