CHRISTMAS: Message in a wheelchair

Every year I look for something that makes me feel the true spirit of Christmas. I did not expect to find it outside of the Super 1 store in Hayden.

Like most people I was in and out of the store two or three times a day for two days in a row. I am always impressed with the Salvation Army bell ringers, but on these two days the bell ringer was a man in a wheelchair. I do not think he could move any of extremities except his hand, which held the bell. As we all know, it was really cold out there as well.

Every time I came out of the store he made eye contact with me as well as any other shoppers and wished us a Merry Christmas with a warm, sweet smile. I was so moved and just felt that in this man and his willingness to do what he could was the spirit of Christ. I with a healthy physical body was not doing as much as this man to feel and help others feel that spirit.

So thank you to Super 1 first for letting the Salvation Army have bell ringers in front of your store. I know there are stores in the area that will not let them be there. The loss is theirs as this is a small way everyone who passes can help those in need in our community.

Second, thank you to the Salvation Army, which coordinates this effort and gives us an opportunity to slow down and think of others, as the Savior would have us do.

And my biggest thank you goes to this man, who with all of his physical limitations gave me the greatest gift of all this Christmas. Through his example I hope to be able keep Christmas in my heart all year long and actually go and do something about it.

CHRISTINE JASPER

Hayden