I’m blessed. In the next few days my home will be filled with family, friends, cats and dogs coming together to celebrate Christmas. For some that many people in a house is a recipe for a fight waiting to break out, but for me it’s a true blessing. But I remember in years’ past not being able to be with family for the holidays. What kept me from being completely depressed was the love of friends who opened their home and took me in as one of their own.

While we are all running around looking for those last-minute gifts, baking goodies, and preparing for the big Christmas dinner, we can easily bypass those who might be near us without a place to be on Christmas day. I can barely keep up with my own family, their children and pets much less think about someone off my radar. But that’s the person who might need me the most.

There’s no big wisdom to impart in this post, no big revelation, no saucy confession. I just want to be the voice of the quiet and lonely person next to you who might never speak for himself or herself, but who desperately wants a place to belong this Christmas. I was once that person. I know how it feels. Someone reached out to me and took me in.

Take a deep breath and disengage from the Christmas craziness long enough to find the person who needs to be part of your Christmas. It might be your best Christmas gift ever. I know it was for me.

How do you feel about inviting someone you barely know to celebrate Christmas at your home?