For many of us, the holidays are an exciting time of hustle and bustle as well as a time to connect with family and friends. However, for some, the Christmas season has a way of making life feel lonelier and sadder. There are some people who go into the holiday season not wanting to put up a tree, wrap presents, or listen to Christmas carols. Sometimes the holidays bring out painful emotions and there are days throughout the season where some individuals may want to just cry and be alone. Perhaps you personally know someone who has experienced a loss or is celebrating the holiday alone. Maybe you know of individuals who are in a nursing home, or a family that has limited resources and are unable provide gifts to their children or a special meal on Christmas Day. Our Fearless Five Family wanted to share some suggestions with you on how you can personally make the holidays fearlessly fantastic for those who are not excited about the holidays.

• Pick one or more families that you know are struggling during the expensive Christmas season and pray about ways to make their holiday special. Could you purchase them a turkey or a ham? Could you drop off gifts at their door? Could you anonymously send them a check? Several years ago, my husband and I made a quick run into Walmart to send our daughter some money. Their quest service window was next to the lay away department. Next to us was a husband and wife, who kept whispering back and forth about which toys they could afford for their children and which toys they had to put back. My husband and I told the gentleman at guest services that we wanted to pay for that families’ gifts discreetly. It brought my husband and I so much joy to know that a family was going to be blessed on Christmas Day by seeing their children open toys.

• A few weeks before the holidays are a great time to clean out the closets and playrooms and give to the local donation centers. There are so many foster families that could use toys and books. There are others that could benefit from clothing and items of necessity. It is cathartic to clean and give and knowing that these items will be going to someone who is in need is a wonderful feeling. This year Franco and I donated a lot of my clothing to the Alpha House, a residential program that offers a safe and educational environment for new moms and their babies. Their goal is to provide life lessons that can transform a family of two from a displaced situation to a world of self-sufficiency. Can you think of an organization you would like to donate to? 

• Can you and your family identify people in your life that you have not thanked through the years that may be feeling under-appreciated? This holiday season, your family can put on Christmas music, sit in a room with decorated holiday lights and take the time to write heart-felt notes of thanks and mail them. Gratitude warms the heart and the holiday season is the perfect time to take the time to bless those who have blessed you. This is also a great skill set to teach your children, that in a world run by technology, receiving a letter by snail mail can still bring a smile.