The Holiday Lights Project

“Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.”

— Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

The end of the year’s approaching, and it’s tempting to look at whatever’s going on in the news, on social media, or in the economy and say, “I give. It’s all too much.” I feel this way every year, to be honest. No matter how good or bad my year was personally, when I look around me there’s always too much to worry about and seemingly too few people trying to make it better.

But I’m not giving up, because I know that most of the time the people doing good work, the ones repariring the world, do it quietly. They don’t want attention, they want to bless people. So instead of giving in, let’s say this instead: the world always needs people who are willing to rise above their personal mess and share some love and kindness with others, especially around the holidays.

The world always needs people who are willing to rise above their personal mess and share some love and kindness with others, especially around the holidays.

For years, my family and I have practiced what I’ll call “free-range blessing,” looking for ways that we can share some kindness or help with strangers who need it. We do this year-round, and we do it intentionally, making it part of our family DNA. I cannot recommend this enough: if you want a happy family, teach them to care for others who can’t give them anything in return. And if you want your kids to appreciate their Christmas presents, give them a chance to buy a gift for a kid who probably won’t get anything else this year.

If you want a happy family, teach them to care for others who can’t give them anything in return. And if you want your kids to appreciate their Christmas presents, give them a chance to buy a gift for a kid who probably won’t get anything else this year.