Jingle Bells

December 13, 2016 at 8:28 am brownwoodnewsstaff

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Written by Rowonna McNeely – One of our Christmas traditions involves ringing a bell for the Salvation Army. For the last three years, Kiera and I have signed up an hour of our time to stand in front of a store and ring a bell.

Kiera and I have fun during that hour. We wish every single person coming and going out of the store a “Merry Christmas.” Some people don’t respond but the majority of people will break into a smile while wishing you a “Merry Christmas” in return. It’s heartwarming.

Sometimes, we get so busy that we forget to notice our surroundings, especially during Christmas. I’m guilty of it. I can think of numerous times that I got off work, ran in the store, and hurried home to fix dinner. I didn’t pay attention to what was going on around me. I might not have noticed someone smiling at me because I was too focused on my tasks.

Monday night, as Kiera and I stood in front of our designated store, we watched in amazement as the sun dropped low and the sky turned brilliant shades of oranges, pinks and blues.

Kiera and I sang “Jingle Bells” as we rang our bell. We wouldn’t get very far in the song before one of would stop singing to wish someone “Merry Christmas.”

“What is your favorite part about ringing the bell?” I asked Kiera on the drive home.

“My favorite thing is the suckers. I like to hand them out to people.” She explained.

My mind flashed back to the moment when she stuffed her apron pockets full of suckers. Once her pockets were full, she began to watch for approaching children so she could hand them a sucker. At one point, I had to stop her from going into the parking lot to hand suckers out to a family.

I would like to throw this out there though. Don’t let the bell ringers intimidate you. If you don’t have money to give, you’ve already given or you don’t want to give, it’s ok. I have personally never tackled a person and shook change out of their wallet.

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I am telling you this because that used to be me. I remember a time when I would walk by the bell ringers and avoid eye contact. Now, I think about the time that person is committing to standing and ringing a bell non-stop for an hour. I think about the fun I have with Kiera as we sing Christmas carols and wish passer-byers Merry Christmas.

Not only are we supporting a good cause, but also in our own way, we are spreading a little Christmas cheer. I may not be able to drop money in the kettle every time I walk by, but I can help out by ringing the bell or offering a smile.

It is always an eye opening experience. One lady told us that we were an inspiration to her and she made sure she had change to drop in our kettle as she left the store. Stop and think about that for just a moment. We inspired some one…just by smiling and ringing a bell.

The first year that Kiera and I were bell ringers, a man came out of the store we were standing in front of. He had his head down and was focused on getting to his car. As he reached the curb, Kiera wished him a Merry Christmas. He took a couple more steps before turning and coming back to us. He handed some money over and remarked that he had not planned on stopping but when he heard Kiera’s little voice wishing him a Merry Christmas; he couldn’t help but turn and come back.

If you have never had the opportunity to be a bell ringer for the Salvation Army, I encourage you to sign up. Invite a friend, take an hour and support a great cause while spreading Christmas cheer. You’ll be amazed at how much lighter your heart feels after a short sixty minutes.

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Rowonna McNeely works with her husband, Aaron, at Willie’s T’s in the Art Department, regularly volunteers in the community, and has her hands full with her daughter, Kiera, along with two dogs and one cat. Rowonna is a graduate of May High School (Go Tigers!) and grew up on a dairy farm. She enjoys reading, creating, swimming, and planning events. She’s also a bit of a klutz.

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