During Christmastide and the whole Holiday                                                                             Season, many of us embrace Christ’s teachings of love and kindness by doing charitable acts. Some donate to the poor and needy, buy gifts for strangers, or volunteer serving dinner at a shelter. These are all very honorable deeds, but often once the holidays are over, most of us forget that the homeless, the hungry, the struggling, the sick, orphans, and those who barely get by still are in need of charity.

Charity comes from the Latin word caritas: love, affection, dear-ness. It is a synonym for kindness, consideration, and Christian love, or agape. Agape is the Ancient Greek word for charity and love. Today agape stands for unselfish, spiritual, brotherly, and Godly love.

Throughout the Christmas season and into the New Year and beyond, let us all practice to make a continuous effort to be kind, loving, considerate, and charitable to all others however we can. Even just a kind smile and a friendly “hello” can be a precious gift. May we all embrace the meaning of Christmas to spread love throughout the year to everyone! And, as Tiny Tim said in A Christmas Carol: God bless us everyone!