The perfect gift
December 21, 2006
For those of you who haven’t yet tried the new-look NZ Herald online it’s certainly worth a look and is a big improvement on the previous site.
Ana Samways’ ‘Sideswipe’ is now on the home page and I was delighted to see extracts from emails sent to Telecom’s Santaline included there today. A handful of comments are published – all worth reading – but this one particularly caught my eye: “Dear Santa, I don’t want much, just something nice for mum and something nice for me as we can’t afford Christmas this year and I know that upsets my mum but I’m okay with it.” Given my post on Monday about judgements often made around Christmas gifts it’s heartening to see the true spirit of Christmas alive and well amongst many children and young people.
It’s great to see too that the little dog Job (pronounced Jobe), rescued by Auckland SPCA from horrendous neglect and cruelty, is improving as a result of the dedicated care of SPCA staff and an outpouring of support from the public. The TradeMe auction of a limited edition signed All Blacks jersey, generously donated by Alan Johnson of Insignia International, raised $4,000 towards Job’s appeal and many more donations continue to be received by the SPCA in support of this wee pup and others in need. (The comments from TradeMe members on this auction are well worth reading.)
If you are able to make a donation to the SPCA this Christmas, however small, please do so. It’s the perfect gift: no shopping involved, no wrapping required and absolutely no judgement as to the value or appropriateness of the gift. Whatever is donated is always, always, warmly and genuinely received with the deepest gratitude. And that’s what Christmas is truly about.
As Mum to two adopted little dogs from rescue centres – one that had been abandoned and injured and one that had been abused – I know only too well that all that really counts is kindness, compassion and trust. Perhaps, if we all quietly donated to at least one charity this Christmas – financially or in-kind – there may be a little less fear, abuse and neglect in 2007 and a little more compassion, hope and gratitude.