Latin Fusion TV BLOG

That the Holidays are here and it is Christmas, I am reminded of the more important things in life – Love, Caring, Sharing, Giving, Family, Friends and Santa Clause.  And look, I don’t want to push my beliefs on you – but I celebrate a Christian Christmas with some commercialism thrown in.  I celebrate Christmas and I believe in Jesus and Santa Clause.  Many of you have different religious and spiritual upbringing, and I respect you nonetheless…  I ask you do the same with me and each other.  Because the idea of celebrating the Holidays is not foreign to any of us.  We all have some holiday we celebrate – don’t we?  We all celebrate something! And we all have some sort of belief when it comes to Christmas – we either believe or we don’t.  And with Christmas, comes giving and hoping giving with love!

But for now, let us celebrate our similarities rather than our differences.

Why?  Because it is easy to find fault and differences that separate – but true humanity and value as people falls in celebration and appreciation of the similarities we share as part of the human race.

Alright, what am I saying and what does it have to do with:  “It only takes one!”  What does that mean?

Allow me to explain:  Life is filled with joy, frustration, anger, happiness, loss, love, security and insecurity.  It also consists of finding the one moment or incident that will make you remember, for the rest of your days.  And recently I had that moment that leads me to say:  “It Only Takes One!”

1. one kind word – to lift a spirit;
2. one mean word -  to kill a spirit;
3. one random act of kindness – to bring joy to someone;
4. one smile – to brighten someones day;
5. one word of encouragement – to keep someone moving forward;
6. one word of discouragement – to make someone quit;
7. one kiss – to take your breath away;
8. one movie – to change your opinion;
9. one person – to change your life for the better or for the worse;
10. one gift – to make a Christmas for someone;
11. one teacher – to influence you forever;
12. one hug – to make you feel better;
13. one song – to change your attitude;
14. one tragic story – to reevaluate your life;
15. one tragedy – to change your life forever;
16. One drink – to take you over the edge;
17. one moment – to never forget;
18. ad infinitum and you get the picture….

But understand – it only takes one and you are THE ONE!

We lost a friend this week (as we all do) and it reminded me of what I saw last week.  Allow me to share:

My partner, the Beautiful Brandy Lopez was invited to participate in a gift giving excursion.  She was Mrs. Clause.  She, along with Bexar County Sheriff Amadeo Ortiz and  Santa Clause, rode on a horse drawn carriage down a major street, with a police escort to deliver toys to the  Clarity Mental Health Center for Children.  It was a neat experience.

In celebration of the Christmas spirit, they delivered toys to the 80 or 90 children that are part of this school.  The school helps children who are emotionally challenged and suffering from some sort of mental challenge (depression, ADHD, ADD, PTSD, etc.) Most of these children have suffered one tragedy after another, so much so that they are traumatized and need therapy.  Some go through The Clarity, which has some good people at the helm and what appeared to be a very caring staff.

As the children came and went , some spoke to Santa, some just picked up their gifts and moved along.  Some were shy, some didn’t care to engage but were happy nonetheless.

Then came The One.  This little guy walked up to the carriage with his hand held out.  He was walking with one of his teachers beside him.  He was not looking for permission as much as he needed someone to walk this journey with him.  It was unclear what he was doing at first until we noticed he was holding something in his hand as he approached the carriage and Santa.  The carriage was hand made of wrought iron and was being pulled by a Hummer.  It was big compared to this little guy.

I was standing behind the little guy and was just not sure what was happening  until I saw the cookie in his little hand.  He slowly approached, with his hand held out, his head down and meekly reached out and said, “Santa, this is for you!”   We were floored!

Not because he was the only one to do this, not because he did it and it made me think, but because you could almost sense the fear of rejection.  He reached out. His gift was accepted and he was accepted.

And it was Santa Clause that accepted his gift.  The One thing that every child wishes – that Santa would accept and take his cookie.  Imagine all the cookies left for Santa in this world. Imagine, as the children do, that Santa gathered them up and ate them with a smile.

But think about it, we were able to see this happen as it happened.  The little guy smiled and was still smiling when we left.  And it led me to think that it only takes one – one moment, one gift – given from the innocent of heart.

And it reminded me that “The most important gifts are from the heart!”  And Because – they are given with love!

And God so Loved the World that He gave his only begotten Son, so that we may have Salvation!  Happy Birthday Jesus!

God Bless You all and Merry Christmas!

Michael Arellano