Family Traditions: A Father-in-Law's Holiday Gift of Spreading Christmas Cheer by Bri Montoya

Every year my father-in-law gives all of his children, their spouses and older grandchildren the most anticipated gift of all – Christmas cheer. He proudly hands each of us an envelope with a Christmas card. Inside the card is a scribbled note from him and a crisp $100 bill. The $100 comes with explicit instructions that we are to find a way to use the money to spread Christmas cheer. Aside from that, how and when we use the money is entirely up to us. The money has been used in many different ways over the years. A few examples are:

• To buy stockings and stocking stuffers to hand out around town.

• To help someone who is struggling buy Christmas presents for their children.

• To generously tip a waiter or waitress.

• To help pay off items on layaway.

• To hand to a weary shopper in the store.

• To encourage a single mother to pamper herself.

Sometimes the money will go to people we know personally and other times it will go to random strangers. Either way, it always reminds us that the holidays are about giving and lifting the spirits of others.

How will you spread holiday cheer?