I did something very unlike me. I planned a Christmas party (which my closest family and friends will tell you is not my “thing”), and I left a big portion of the time very “open” to whatever would happen. The invite list was our group of singers from church (there are about 20), but the focus was going to be on serving the elderly men and women who stay in the shelter in our church parking lot. The music director and Jose and I have a special place in our hearts for these often overlooked grandpas and grandmas in our community, and we wanted to give them a Christmas surprise. But, I had no idea who was really going to show up and how it was all going to come together.
I had a few ladies help me with the preparation of some traditional hot chocolate (with ginger and cinnamon) and bread to serve. “Chocolate con pan” is a big favorite here around Christmas time. We noticed that the “ancianos” (elderly men and women) were starting to get ready for bed, so we told them not to go to sleep yet but to get ready for a party. They were surprised, but thrilled!
Our music director Edel arrived and pulled out his guitar. I went into the church and found a few percussion instruments to pass out to some of our singers to make a little Christmas band. While we were serving the hot chocolate and bread, everyone began singing and playing their instruments. I had never heard most of the Caribbean Christmas choruses that they sang, so it was a great experience for me…quite different than the carols I grew up with!
Then, Edel asked everyone to give their name and share their favorite part of Christmas. It was so beautiful to hear what Christmas meant to every person in this very diverse group. Many of our ancianos no longer have family in their lives to celebrate with or get to experience giving or receiving gifts. They typically have no more than the clothes on their back and their cot in our parking lot. But, I hope that last night they experienced the joy of celebrating as a family along with us and felt loved and accepted. I know that they gave me a tremendous gift…my heart was overflowing as I watched them — the disabled, the blind, the aged, the weary, the forgotten — all singing and clapping and eating as much bread and chocolate as we could serve. I’m so glad that I didn’t give up and cancel the party when I thought it was going to be a flop. It turned out to be one of the most special evenings that I have had in a long time.
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