A Teaching Moment: Gratitude

Submitted By: Anonymous Holy Trinity Member

Like any other year, 2020 had its blessings and, of course, its challenges. Our family was particularly blessed in that we maintained employment, quarantined in a beautiful home, and remained healthy. But for many other people, we know that good health, a warm place to sleep, and food on the table have been an extra struggle.

So this year, my husband and I decided to start a new holiday tradition with our young children in an effort to teach them about our privilege and the plight of so many around the world. The week following Christmas, we woke up early one morning, purchased a dozen or so McDonald's breakfasts, and drove into downtown DC. As we circled the city blocks, we looked for individuals sleeping on benches, huddled in doorways, or wrapped in tarps trying to stay warm. Equipped with our masks and our warm meals, we hopped out to offer each individual a biscuit or two. Some greeted our offer with a heartfelt thanks. Some politely refused. Others had tears in their eyes as they took the first bite.

We didn't have much to offer -- just a few bags of warm breakfast sandwiches, something so many of us take for granted -- but we've never experienced the degree of gratitude we did that morning from those strangers in need. What started as a teaching moment for our children turned into an even larger reminder of what not only Christmas, but every day, should truly be for all of us.