Sometimes, through all the crazy that exists in our daily lives, our humanity shines through. And sometimes, these acts of kindness turn viral. True Holiday Spirit happened recently right here in the Keys, and the giving spirit has inspired others to do the same.
A couple who are definitely on the Nice List this year are Mr. and Mrs. Bentley from Key West. They donated $4,000 each to the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office and the Key West Police Department, and those donations will be turned into grocery store gift cards for distribution to those in need this holiday season. This couple has been making these donations anonymously for years; their coming forward this year has inspired a small outbreak of giving.
Fellow Marathon City Council Member Steve Cook was one of those inspired. He matched the $4,000 donation to the Sheriff’s Office. So did David Brickner of Key West.
Marathon couple Jeanette Chiari and Bill Horn as well as Maria Brandvold each donated $1,000. And Marathon Vice Mayor Dr. Dan Zieg also donated $1,000. Thanks to these special Santas, a lot of local families will be able to enjoy a nice Christmas dinner (or simply keep food on the table) during this holiday season.
Just think — if this giving spirit continues to go viral … and perhaps it carries on into the New Year and beyond … we just might get to that place talked about so long ago: Peace on Earth, to men (and women) of Good Will.
So Merry Christmas to all of you from all of us here at the Weekly Newspapers. To help keep you in that holiday spirit, I’ll share some festive Christmas quotes from wise people throughout the ages.
“Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn’t before! What if Christmas, he thought, doesn’t come from a store? What if Christmas…perhaps…means a little bit more?” – Dr. Seuss, How the Grinch Stole Christmas!
“Want to keep Christ in Christmas? Feed the hungry, clothe the naked, forgive the guilty, welcome the unwanted, care for the ill, love your enemies, and do unto others as you would have
done unto you.” – Steve Maraboli
“In the old days, it was not called the Holiday Season; the Christians called it ‘Christmas’ and went to church; the Jews called it ‘Hanukkah’ and went to synagogue; the atheists went to parties and drank. People passing each other on the street would say ‘Merry Christmas!’ or ‘Happy Hanukkah!’ or (to the atheists) ‘Look out for the wall!’” – Dave Barry
“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?” – Bob Hope
“‘There are many things from which I might have derived good, by which I have not profited, I dare say,’ returned the nephew. ‘Christmas among the rest. But I am sure I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round — apart from the veneration due to its sacred name and origin, if anything belonging to it can be apart from that — as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow-passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. And therefore, uncle, though it has never put a scrap of gold or silver in my pocket, I believe that it has done me good, and will do me good; and I say, God bless it!’” – Charles Dickens
“One of the most glorious messes in the world is the mess created in the living room on Christmas day. Don’t clean it up too quickly.” – Andy Rooney
In the spirit of all that’s good on Christmas, I’d like to invite you to join me for a special Christmas Eve Acoustic Concert live from Boondocks and on Facebook Live at 7:30 on … well, Christmas Eve! I’ll be playing some of my favorite holiday music, and I’ll bet it’s some of yours as well. Find the concert at my Facebook page: www.facebook.com/john.bartus
– Catch John Mondays at Boondocks, this Wednesday at the Key Colony Inn, Thursdays at Sparky’s Landing, and Christmas Eve at Boondocks and on Facebook Live. www.johnbartus.com
