Get Ready...Christmas is Coming

The month of December! For a school administrator, we call it the “15 longest days of the year” because of the many Christmas activities we have each day and night. Looking at my calendar, I have an activity each evening. From the traditional K-5 Christmas Program, 6-8 Holiday Concert, three holiday band concerts and a high school holiday choir concert, a jazz band holiday concert, a high school basketball tournament that is a week long, junior high basketball games, curriculum meetings, a board meeting, site council meetings and the feeding of the 125 (Debbie and I hosting and cooking for our annual Christmas Open House for our staff)…..It seems to go on and on and on. On Friday, December 21 at 3:20, when the final school bell rings, I usually then begin to get in the Christmas spirit.

I have had a tradition of working late the last day of school. I make sure all the buses get the kids home safely, teachers and staff are out of the buildings, principals are gone and custodians are locking up the facilities. After all that is done, I walk the halls at the schools and listen to the quiet.

December can be such a hectic and stressful time for people. Especially children. The kids today have so many uncertainties in their lives. Many have no idea who they will be spending Christmas with. Will it be mom who lives here or dad who lives in Kansas City? Will I get any presents this year? Dad doesn’t have a job and mom is sick and the hospital bills are piling up. Or dad is in jail and they have no idea where they will be. These are just a few of the challenges I think about during this time of year. It is difficult to be festive and cheery with those that love the holidays when you see so many that are hurting and hate this time of year.

What can we do? Prayer and giving are the magic ingredients to bless someone's life during the holidays. Here in Osage City, a small community, we have many challenges. Poverty is our biggest concern. The school, individuals, even our kids adopt families this time of year so everyone can be given a special Christmas. I am overwhelmed by the generosity that I see from our kids and staff as they pour out their hearts for families in need. Our annual high school Christmas Formal brings toys galore to kids in our community that wouldn’t receive anything under the tree if it weren’t for that special project.

Several members at Central will be in need during this season. What can we do? Pray and give. Be Christ-like and bless someone else. Adopt a family.

As I walk the halls that last day, I always thank God for giving me so many blessings. I am thankful that he has blessed me with so many physical and spiritual blessings. It’s my responsibility to give back and touch lives like Christ has done for me.

The countdown begins…………