”It’s the most wonderful time of the year,” or so the song tells us. Although we hear reports of people over-extending their credit and over-indulging their appetites, the Christmas season does bring out the good in humanity. Today our family saw that up close, when we rang bells for the Salvation Army.

Three years ago, our extended family took a short mission trip that included Christmas day (see blog two days hence), and ever since, some of us have wanted to try another service project. Linnea investigated the Salvation Army and learned they were still looking for bell ringers. We signed up for two-hour time slots at two Walmart entrances and this morning took our turn with the bells.

The Salvation Army is a Christian church started nearly 150 years ago in England. Although their greatest passion is to see people saved by grace through Christ, they also work hard to help those they call “down and outers.” Their strategy is to follow three S’s: first soup, then soap and finally salvation.

The Army is one of the most popular charities in the world, ranking #4 (of 100) in the United States and operating in 122 countries. They’re often the first to show up at disaster areas and the last to leave, sometimes working for years to help refugees in one area.

This year there were over 25,000 volunteer bell ringers during their annual Christmas fundraiser, each wearing the red apron and standing next to the traditional kettles. Children love to “feed the red pots” and banter with the bell ringers, hoping for a chance to handle the bell.

It was a cold day in Michigan City but all the babies joined us for the event, bringing lots of attention and extra donations because they were there. Skylar and Nicholas never tired of putting coins into the kettles, scrutinizing the sidewalks for stray pennies (and finding them), after our supply had run out.

I’m ashamed to say how few red kettles I’ve fed over sixty-plus years of seeing/hearing them in front of stores. After being a ringer, I plan to contribute to every kettle I pass. It embarrasses me to admit I wrongly assumed ringers were there as a form of community service or even punishment for a crime. To the contrary, they’re all ringing because they want to help.

Our first donator was a woman shepherding six children. She made the effort to dig out a contribution, showing her children what it looked like to be a cheerful giver. Others dug into their pockets, wallets and purses, even if it took several minutes. Some came straight from the parking lot with donations already in their palms, prepared to participate.

A special donator was the woman who asked if I was cold. When I said, “Only a  little,” she said, “Do you drink coffee?” Then she offered to buy a cup and bring it to me, a kind gesture I won’t forget.

I’m not sure how much money we raised for the Army’s three S’s, but it was an honor to wear the red apron, greet shoppers with “Merry Christmas!” and ring the bell.

Maybe we’ll do it again next year.

“The poorest of the poor will find pasture, and the needy will lie down in safety.” (Isaiah 14:30)