“I am the little Christ child. “Who wanders through the world bringing peace and happiness to good children. You took me in and cared for me when you thought me a good child, and now you shall have my blessing for what you have done.” – The Legend of the Christmas Tree, by Clement Clark Moore.

There was no place in the world that I would rather have been this morning that at the Mansion, reading Christmas stories to the dozen or so residents with nowhere else to go. It was a wonderful gift to me, the Spirit of Christmas right in front of me.

Maria came with me, she is much-loved by many of the residents,  they love the art classes she conducts once a month. Mostly, Red and I go to the Mansion, but more and more, it has become something we share. She has a gift for this work. Her love and radiance lift them up.

At The Mansion, Christmas begins early, right after a special breakfast. The residents go into the Great Room where the Christmas tree is, and gift bags are distributed to each resident.

There is a calm over the Mansion, it  feels very different.

Under the tree are the gift bags are filled with candy, cookies, pins and buttons from the Army Of Good. Maria and I arrived just before 10 a.m. The residents who are away for the day, they will get them when they return later today or tomorrow.

We had talked about singing Christmas carols together,  but I sensed that the remaining residents could not or didn’t wish to sing this morning, they were in a reflective, even sad, mood.

They said they would love to sing on  Friday, a Karaoke sing-song is planned for 2:30. I understood how they feel. I’ll be there.

I had  two books with me,  Robert Frost: Stopping By The Woods On A Snowy Evening, illustrated by Susan Jeffers, and Family Christmas Treasures, A Celebration Of Art And Stories, a big beautiful book with gorgeous illustrations.

I first read the Frost poem to the dozen or so people gathered for the reading. Two of them cried at the beauty of the images in the poem. The others were listening intensely. I was shocked when Ben spoke, he has never spoken to me before, he is shy and looks away.

They were all listening intently, I sensed they were very happy that we came. Something about the Christmas stories and poems touched them.

I  read three stories, including “The Legend Of The Christmas Tree,” by Clement Clark Moore, “The Tree That Didn’t Get Trimmed,” by Christopher Morley, and “Kidnapped Santa Claus,” by L. Frank Baum.

I asked the people in the room to share their Christmas memories after each story, many did. Sylvie talked of her sleigh rides in Austria after World War II, her father was a diplomat. Alan remembered getting a rifle, and learning to hunt deer. Ruth remembered sneaking downstairs early to open her presents.

She got into trouble she said, I asked her if she did it again the next year, she smiled and said yes, she did. Madeline came up to me as we were leaving and talked about her Christmas in the Jewish Orphanage where she was raised after her father’s murder. She said the Jewish directors were good about letting the Christian children have their Christmas.

As I often say, I am not a Christian, and I do not worship Christ as a God, but I do follow him as a kind of disciple, his life and teachings have always inspired me. It is hard for me to see how people distort and ignore his teachings.

As I work to make sense out of the Christmas holiday – we are having the most beautiful Christmas this year – I do think of what it was that Christ might be doing on the morning of a holiday like this.

Of course, he would have been in a place like the Mansion,  he was passionate about the need for human beings to care for the poor, the needy and the forgotten. That was his message, that was the point of him.

It was a wonderful experience for me, a gift, to be at the Mansion this morning, if I had any doubts about it, they were dispelled by the smiles, faces and tears of the residents in room, listening to my stories.

I told them stories until I was hoarse, and we left, running a gauntlet of people coming over to hug us and thank us and ask  when we would be back.

Friday, I said, I’ll be back on Friday, Maria too.

Red and I might come even sooner, we usually come once or twice during the week. I asked Wayne if his new shoes fit, and they did, and I told Ruth I would be getting her a flannel bathrobe in a couple of days, when some donations come in.

Ruth said, as she always does, that she can pay me back in a few weeks when her Social Security check comes in. No need, I say, it’s taken care of. She does not ask again.

Leaving the Mansion this morning was bittersweet. A part of me was sad at leaving these people alone on Christmas for the rest of the day.  Another part of me was so grateful to them for helping me practice and understand what it is that Christmas is really about.

I felt the meaning of Christmas this morning, but as important, I felt the joy of celebrating it in this way.