Season’s Greetings: Celebrating Your Journey – Anderson Connect

It’s that *time* of year again, for taking pause and breath, embracing hope and love, creating memories with kindred family and friends, as we celebrate the holidays in our own special way.

You’ve worked with passion and intensity, balancing studies, family, and life; you’ve earned this break to rest and rejuvenate. As you take those moments in the sparkle and cheer of the season, may you know how we too celebrate you, feel privileged to be a part of your adventure, are in awe of your tenacity of spirit and are deeply grateful to have you as a member of our Anderson family.

This month’s Anderson Connect is in that honour of time, as you cherish all you’ve accomplished and the blessings of your life.

Today’s read is approximately 4 minutes.

Inside this Edition:

• A Thought to Ponder
• A Short Story to Inspire
• 1 Short Video to Motivate

A Thought to Ponder

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.” ~ Hamilton Wright Mabie

No matter how our incredibly beautiful and diverse community welcomes in the season, there is no doubt an illumination and dazzle to this time of year, encouraging us all to express our love and count our blessings, from the simplest to the most profound. You are on our list, indeed!

A Short Story to Inspire

The Unexpected Gift

A boys’ parents, at the height of the Depression, were forced to go on home relief, or welfare as it’s known today. It was 1935, when he was 10 years old; he and his family lived on the first floor of a walk-up apartment on 43rd Street, in Brooklyn, New York.

A few days before the holidays, the young boy looked out the kitchen window to see his father sitting on the stoop, head in hands, dejected and depressed, with tears in his eyes. The mailman was approaching their building and asked his father what was wrong.

The boy heard his father say that he had used up his food vouchers and that the rent was past due. He had tried to work as a labourer through the Works Progress Administration, but he wasn’t a very strong man, and the work had been too hard for him. As the little boy listened, he felt scared. He’d seen pictures in the newspaper of people being put out on the street with all their belongings.

“Ike, how much do you need?” the mailman asked. The boy’s father said he needed $33 for the rent, and without hesitation, the mailman took $50 from his wallet and handed it to him.

His father said, “I don’t know when I’ll be able to pay you back.” The mailman put an arm around him and said it would be okay if he paid him back when he could or even if he didn’t pay him back at all.

The mailman suddenly noticed the boy looking through the window and said to father, “Isaac, things will not be this way forever. If you or your son will remember this day, there will be times in the future when someone needs your help. Help them within your means and tell them what happened this day. This will be payback enough for me.”

As long as the boy’s father lived, he helped others whenever he could. When the boy became a man himself, he forever remembered this incredible kindness. He dedicated his life to helping others as a testament to the gratitude he felt for the mailman’s generosity at a time of great need in the lives of those he loved dearly.

Adapted from a story by —Martin Klapper

The Moral of the Story ~ At this time of year, and always, we are reminded to do our best to see the needs of others and offer support when and how we can. This is the greatest gift we can give, not only for those who will be uplifted by our generosity, but for the joy it brings personally and the example it sets for the next generation of compassionate leaders.

1 Short Videos to Motivate

The Time Shop – A Holiday Short Film

May time seem to stand still as you linger and connect in the moments, celebrate your own unique traditions, or simply bask in the time for rest you’ve earned.

From our home to yours, we’re wishing you the happiest of holidays!

~ Your Anderson College Family