A dozen random acts of kindness

Shopping for my wife's Christmas gift has never been easy because I'm not a shopper. I remember many Christmas Eves walking aimlessly at a shopping mall late in the evening, in the company of other middle-age men stool pigeons, as we scrambled to find last minute and obligatory gifts for our spouses.

It's easier these days because my wife has made it clear that all she wants for Christmas are masses celebrated for her special intention by our church priest. Roman Catholic priests celebrate mass daily with a special intention of a donor. The donation is generally a token cost such as $10 per mass.

So her gift this year - the same as it was last year - is a dozen masses celebrated for her special intention by our church priest, or one mass a month. It's exactly the gift she wants, it makes her happy, and if she's happy then I am too.

Normally I don't buy myself a Christmas gift because I buy my middle-age man toys and trinkets as needed throughout the year. This year, however, I've decided to buy a gift that will bring great joy. I'm buying a random act of kindness.

A random act of kindness is an act performed by a person wishing to assist or cheer up an individual or in some cases even an animal, generally done for no reason other than to make people smile or be happier.

We've all learned that there's joy in giving as well as receiving. This Christmas, I'll be on the receiving end of holiday joy as I give to others a dozen random acts of kindness.

Pax Domini sit semper vobiscum