The Christmas Light Challenge

Some mornings catch you off guard in the best way. Today was one of those mornings. I walked into the living room, coffee in hand, and the glow of the Christmas tree hit me in that nostalgic way. The house was quiet, the kind of quiet I never appreciated when the kids were little because it barely existed back then. Now it shows up more often, and I find myself soaking it in a little longer.

The tree looked beautiful, a mix of ornaments that had survived years of shifting hands. They sit higher now, untouched by curious little fingers, and of course, there was my slipper on the floor, proudly delivered by the dog who is convinced it belongs to him. These tiny, imperfect details are the things that make me smile. They remind me that life changes, but the heart of it stays the same.

Sitting there, I felt myself drifting into old memories, the kind that stick with you no matter how many years pass. I thought about Christmas when I was growing up in a family of twelve. I remembered how, after a long day of milking cows and parenting, my mom and dad would gather us up and drive through the freezing cold to visit our elderly aunts and uncles. All of us bursting through the door and cramming into a tiny hot apartment. Our relatives always had hard candies in a glass dish and Crunchie Cheesies waiting for us. I didn’t understand then why these visits mattered so much, but I understand it now. The way their faces lit up when we walked in said everything. Sometimes the gift isn’t what you carry in your hands. It is the fact that you show up.

That memory stayed with me this morning, and it made me think about what Christmas means for people today. For some, it is joyful and bright, but for others, it is something much harder. There are families trying to stretch every dollar. People are carrying grief that feels heavier this time of year. People who replay memories that hurt. People feel lonely even in a room full of others. People walking through heartbreak or fear that the world does not always see.

The season does not land the same for everyone, and I think it is important to see and remember that.

So here is the thought that settled in. What if each of us chose one person this Christmas and did something small to brighten their world? It could be a warm drink dropped off. A simple message. A meal. A few minutes of genuine listening. A few spare dollars. Something small, real, and thoughtful. Something that reminds someone they are not forgotten and that you see them. That one act of kindness could make all the difference in the world. 

Today I am choosing someone who might be having a harder December than they let on. Someone who deserves a reminder that they matter. If every person reading this reached out to just one person, even once, the ripple effect would be bigger than we could ever track.

It is not about doing more or spending more. It is not about recognition on Instagram. It is about paying attention and extending a bit of love into someone else’s season. 

So here it is. One person, one moment and one kind gesture that might be exactly what someone needs. 

I am officially calling it The Christmas Light Challenge, and I believe with my whole heart that this is how we keep the spirit of Christmas alive long after the lights fade.