TENDER-HEARTED THURSDAY

One of my favorite Hallmark Movies is, The Christmas Visitor. It is a story about a family who suffered the loss of their military son in Desert Storm on Christmas Eve.

 The family was devastated and stopped celebrating Christmas. After several years, the fallen soldier’s father decided that he wanted to bring some happiness back into their home. So, he did what he did every day. He went to visit his son’s grave, then purchased new lights for the tree he intended to buy.

Soon, he met a young man working his way home for the holidays. A long story short, the young man was actually his son, who looked different. He came to help his family come together and find happiness. The young man had a message for each member of his family. A message of hope and love. At the end of the movie when the father takes the young man to a crossroad to continue his journey, something beautiful happened.

 As the young man walked down the road, he stopped, turned, and looked at the man who brought him. At that very moment, his face changed, and he became his father’s son. He saluted, and his father saluted back.

 I have watched this movie every Christmas. In fact, I have viewed it over and over many times. I always cry when the father realizes who the messenger really was.

The Christmas Visitor was filled with neighbors helping neighbors, a family dealing with a devastating loss and the passing of love to one another.

 Now, you might be thinking, It’s just a movie, and you would be right. But to me, it was the perfect example of what is missing today; empathy.

I am tender-hearted, and I am not ashamed of it. I wear my heart on my sleeve and will go out of my way to help another in need. In this day, and age, tender-hearted people are becoming a minority.

Sometimes I wish I had a magic wand and the ability to fly. Now that would certainly be a sight to see. However, something in our country and the world has to change. We need to replace the hate, bullying, greed, disrespect, and lack of empathy with a genuine caring for one another.  We need more tender-hearted people.  And we need more earth angels to bring messages of hope to all those who are struggling in one way or another.

There was a person, thousands of years ago who was tender-hearted. He loved everyone He met. He healed the sick and the lame. He suffered and died on a cross.

I will continue to be tender-hearted. I will cry watching sad movies and cry when I watch happy movies. It is just who I am.  Being kind and loving is not really hard. You just have to find where it has always been, in your heart. Then let it grow.

So, who can you spread your love to today?  Be an earth angel, spread your wings, and shower your love where ever you go.