Finding the gift in the holiday might mean looking beyond traditions and serving in a soup kitchen, being a secret Santa, taking gifts to a homeless shelter, or taking an untraditional path. When circumstances prevent us from traveling to our place of choice, being with loved ones, or spending extra funds on gifts, perhaps it’s time to find grit and reach into our emotional treasure chests to retrieve tools of kindness, resilience, generosity, or hospitality to serve someone else.
Years ago, my daughter, Kash’shawn, who was attending Iowa State University, called and pleaded, “Can I bring my friend home for the holidays? She doesn’t have any place to go. She’s from Japan, and the campus will be closed for winter break.”
I looked around. Due to a construction project, my house was full of sheets, sanders, and ladders. My first inclination was to say, “Of course not. I don’t have time to prepare, and besides, where would she stay?” But instead, I couldn’t believe that I agreed to allow KeiKo, an international college student, to spend Christmas break with our family.
I tidied up my bedroom, changed the linens, retrieved clean towels, cleaned up the bathroom, and waited for my daughter and Keiko to arrive.
Sensing my anxiety, a friend assured me that Keiko would not be focused on having a “magazine experience” of a perfectly decorated Christmas tree in place and poinsettia placed generously throughout the house, but rather a safe place to stay. In a few days, a petite, dark-haired student arrived with my daughter, only carrying a small backpack. We had become her home away from home. To paraphrase lyrics from the Christmas song, “The Little Drummer Boy,” we offered her what we had: warmth, games, breakfast, and home-cooked meals.
Her English was limited, so Keiko, Kash’shawn, her two brothers, and I had to rely on body language, smiles, gestures, and the universal language of kindness to fill in communication gaps.
She tried our food, and we tried hers. After her experience with soul food, she spent an exorbitant amount of time in the bathroom. She had been courteous and gathered with our extended family for a traditional holiday meal, which included ham, turkey, dressing, greens, cranberry sauce, macaroni and cheese, and peach cobbler. I hate to admit that one family member even put a taste of chitterlings on her plate, urging her to try it to give her the full soul food experience.
Before her departure, my daughter and Keiko found a store that sold international food because her friend wanted to make a traditional Japanese meal for us, including a variety of fresh sushi wrapped in seaweed. My taste buds resisted, but I nodded affirmatively as I tried all these foods. Even today, I’ve never fully acquired the taste for sushi. Still, our Christmas and cultures were immersed.
Keiko would spend several more school breaks at our home before she and my daughter graduated, and she returned to Japan. She became the first of several international students we would host through the years, including two students from South Africa. There were moments I would ask myself, “What if it were my child?” I would want someone, even a stranger, to step up and offer her the universal language of kindness and hospitality.
Has life placed you on an unexpected pathway? Do you have to spend the holiday season pulling from your emotional toolbox skills of pivoting, applying resilience, finding courage, trying new ways to venture forward, and still celebrate?
Let Christmas be a reminder that, according to the Scriptures, centuries ago, Joseph and Mary traveled to a new land and couldn’t find room in the inn and had to retreat to a stable. From that stable, the stars shone brightly, and God fulfilled His purpose and gave His best gift.
Merry Christmas and a peaceful and blessed new year to you!
Be inspired to live out generosity this Christmas with Lucille’s book, The True Gift!
