I’ve written for years about my own personal search for the spirit of Christmas, and this year, I believe the good people at the Mansion Assisted Care Facility – staff and residents –  have helped me to feel and see what I have been looking for.  I have shed my own troubles and see this clearly now.

Christmas was simple and powerful for me in 2016, the meaning of the holiday is now crystal clear to me.

It is about empathy and compassion, about reaching out to others.

I don’t know if he is the son of God or not, I am still in search of my God, and it does not really matter. I know that what you have been doing with the people at the Mansion was his true message of faith and grace.

This morning, the Mansion was quiet, more than half of the residents had left to be with their families. This year, thanks to the astonishing generosity of the readers of this blog, everyone at the Mansion had gifts to open this morning, and more than one. I could not begin to list the gifts that have been pouring in – soaps and quilts and toiletries and cards and photos and candy and cookies, flowers and scarves, yarn and sewing kits, puzzles and games.

This morning many of the residents wanted to skip breakfast and get right to the tree, everyone got their own bag, everyone was recognized by the outside world, everyone felt the spirit of Christmas, felt connected to the community of people they sometimes feel so apart from.

It is not simple to be aged and in need of assistance in order to live, and perhaps the hardest thing about it is the sense of being forgotten. You changed that reality for these people, every person I talked with, staff and residents, said they had never seen anything like the outpouring of love and generosity you have brought to the people in the Mansion.

I am not a Christian, nor a religious person,  but I am a believer in Christ and his message. “Come, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.”

Sometimes i think our culture has turned its backs on the poor, invoking religion but betraying its message. You are faith restorers.

Nobody had to lift a finger, so many of you did so much more than that. And all anonymously, all from the good of your own hearts.

Thank you for lifting the spirits of people at the edge of life, cut off from almost everything they hold dear, ignored by so much of their society.

They are well cared for by a loving and dedicated staff.

But more than anything, I think, they need to know that they are known and thought of, and you would have shed tears to see how happy and meaningful your gifts have been. Person after person tried to thank me, but I did the least – the thanks go to you.

I saw the true spirit of Christmas this week and today, it is in the smiles of the Mansion residents and in the good souls and compassionate hearts of the scores, even hundreds of people who have written them letters, send them cards and gifts and reminded them that people are good, given the chance.

I thank you for helping me also to see what Christmas means, and to make my holiday so meaningful.I don’t need to fuss about it any longer, I’ve got it. There are many Mansions out there. In addition to visiting there, I found the simple beauty in just being still, walking with Maria, sitting with the animals, reading by a wood stove fire. I will not soon forget the smiles and grateful tears of the Mansion residents for the Christmas that has been restored to them.

Of course, it was a dog that started all of this, and Red and Maria and I went to the Mansion this morning to cheer up those who had no place to go. But they did not need cheering up, mostly, they were all talking about your cards and letters and gifts and how much they loved Red. They were carrying your cards, wearing your pins, were warmed by your mittens and gloves, cheered by your flowers and stuffed animals.

Maria sat with Connie before she left to have dinner with her family, and I was so touched by their conversation, they talked about knitting and fiber art. Connie told me that Red was her best friend, she was hoping he could come by on Christmas morning. We did.

There were many gifts for the people there, but your thoughtfulness was also a great gift to me, an affirmation of what I believe in and hope for. Creativity was created, I believe, to lift up the souls of the world.

This was a creative enterprise for sure, if you read the cards and messages and saw the baskets and packages and pins – somebody sent 40 beautiful red pins made out of sea shells and everyone was wearing one. It became the symbol of Christmas at the Mansion.

You have all done enough. I intend to continue my work with Red at the Mansion. I hope some of you will continue to send your messages and cards and good wishes to the residents of the Mansion, they would cherish your greetings as the New Year approaches.

The address there is 11 S. Union Avenue, Cambridge, N.Y., 12816. You will not see what you have done on the news, the good deeds of good people are not considered as important as the hatred and violence and argument presented to us as the reality of our world. It is not the reality of our world, it is only one reality of our world. What you did is another, a big and important story.

Jesus, in whose name we celebrate this day, said people who care for the poor and needy are blessed, and will inherit the kingdom of God.  And the poor shall join them. “Blessed are  you who are poor, for yours is the kingdom of God.”

So nice to know you.