Sound of the Season
For as long as I can remember I have heard bells ringing at Christmastime. The tinkling of the tiny bells is a reminder that there are many people in need and that there are also people who by their generosity of time, energy and money want to help others who are less fortunate.
My first memory of the bells ringing and the money dropping into the red kettles was as a young child in my hometown, Jackson, MS. There was always a Salvation Army collection spot between the Jitney Jungle and Brent’s Drugstore which was made famous in The Help. Whether in Mississippi, Texas or Colorado, the jingling of bells makes me feel warm and cozy.
Because of my fondness for the mission of the Salvation Army I too have become a bell ringer. My spot is outside Wal-Mart and no matter how hard I try to pick a warm sunny day, I often end up with a gray, cold snowy day. The thing that warms my heart and soul is the people that I encounter.
I have begun to categorize the people who pass my stand. There are:
- The ignorers—those who try to pretend that I am not there making lots of noise with my bell
- The prepared—those who are ready for the kettle and no matter how much or how little they give, they are always ready to put something in the pot
- The hurried—those that are in such a rush, they seem to miss out on the enjoyment of life
- The friendly—those who come and visit whether they give or not, which makes the time spent ringing go by so much faster
- The guilty—those are the ones who give only because they know me and feel like they have to give, just because it’s me
- The teachers—those parents and grandparents who are trying to teach their children to give to others in need by providing them with money to put in the bucket; I love the teachers because you see the fruit of their efforts years later when teenagers come by and empty their pockets
This year, I observed two children who were being taught by the adults in their lives but had different responses. A little boy about 4 years old while still in the store had determined how much money he was going to give and how much to keep. After putting the money in the bucket, the grandmother said, “Now some child is going to be able to have a good Christmas.” Upon hearing that statement, the child reached into his pocket and put the rest of the money into the kettle. What a generous spirit!
The other little girl about six years old was given a handful of coins while heading toward the store with the instructions to give it to the poor. Her mother strolled ahead of her and the child reached into the palm of her hand and took a single coin out to give to those in need. She walked into the store and then guilt must have set in because she turned back around and put the rest of the change into the red bucket.
This year I determined that if I can afford to go shopping at the local Wal-Mart or anywhere that they are collecting money, I can afford to give to the Salvation Army each time I pass a bell ringer, even if it is just a handful of coins or a dollar bill. I want to be the prepared, generous giver. What about you?
2 Corinthians 9:7 Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver.
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