Love actually is all around

"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often, it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know, none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaking suspicion... love actually is all around." From the movie, Love Actually

I just want to take a quick minute to give a shot out to one of my very best friends. I know she wouldn't talk about this to anyone else or advertise it for the world to know...which is why I am doing it.

I think sometimes during the holidays we all are guilty in getting caught up in the hustle and bustle of buying the most perfect gift(s), making sure we have the better lights on our house, hosting the perfect holiday party...I see so many people during the holidays trying to one up friends, family, and neighbors. I mean for crying out loud when did shopping start to result in people getting pepper sprayed over getting a gift?

Seriously crazy people...it's just a gift. No dancing Elmo or 60 inch plasma TV is worth that.

I know I personally want the "must have" items or want to make sure I get everyone really amazing gifts...and sometimes I let that get the best of me...but then I have to remember exactly what the true meaning of Christmas really is.

Christmas is a season of great joy. Christmas is the celebration of the birth of Jesus Christ. It's a time when God shows his love for us and a time of renewed hope and strength. I am not going to go into preaching here...just a little reminder of what the Christmas season really is about...which brings me to my original reason on why I am posting this.

A renewed hope and strength...are some powerful words. Love is too a powerful word. My in real life best friend who just so happens to have a blog...Figuring out the plot...demonstrated those three words this last weekend. Every year she buys an angel off the Christmas tree at the store,like many of us do, just not a child angel, but a nursing home angel. I thought, that is such a great idea...I wish my store did that in my hometown. I also worry about the elderly sitting all alone in the nursing home at Christmas time.

Miss football, as I like to refer to her on this blog...grabbed her two angels off the tree and bought the gifts. Sunday was the very last day you could buy things for the angels and it get to them in time for Christmas. As Miss Football walked out the opposite end of where she came into the store, she saw there were still several angels left on the tree. This upset her so much, she called me and told me she was going back in and taking all the rest of the angels off the tree and buying everything on their list.

I just want to say that getting her first two angels is more than enough, but going back and getting all the other angels off the tree is what Christmas is truly about. I told her she brought tears to my eyes because it's such a small act, but it will bring such joy to their hearts. I knew she wouldn't want to talk about, but I just had to mention it.

Christmas is love. Love for your family and love for people you may never meet...and my friend...well, I think she has this Christmas thing down.

Love you Miss Football!