Family Traditions: A Father-in-Law's Holiday Gift of Spreading Christmas Cheer by Bri Montoya

Holidays
6 years ago

Family Traditions: A Father-in-Law's Holiday Gift of Spreading Christmas Cheer

Every year my father-in-law gives all of his children, their spouses and older grandchildren the most anticipated gift of all – Christmas cheer. He proudly hands each of us an envelope with a Christmas card. Inside the card is a scribbled note from him and a crisp $100 bill. The $100 comes with explicit instructions that we are to find a way to use the money to spread Christmas cheer. Aside from that, how and when we use the money is entirely up to us. The money has been used in many different ways over the years. A few examples are:

  • To buy stockings and stocking stuffers to hand out around town.
  • To help someone who is struggling buy Christmas presents for their children.
  • To generously tip a waiter or waitress.
  • To help pay off items on layaway.
  • To hand to a weary shopper in the store.
  • To encourage a single mother to pamper herself.

Sometimes the money will go to people we know personally and other times it will go to random strangers. Either way, it always reminds us that the holidays are about giving and lifting the spirits of others.

How will you spread holiday cheer?

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Elisa Schmitz
OMG, that is amazing! What an incredibly generous and thoughtful gift. It makes him feel good, you feel good and, ultimately, the recipients feel amazing. I love this, Bri Montoya ! Thank you for sharing!! ❤️🎄
Bri Montoya
It truly is! All year long I think about what I could do, but I usually find that life will just present me with the perfect situation/person!
Ann Marie Patitucci
I love everything about this, Bri Montoya ! What a special man! Thank you for sharing this with us!
Bri Montoya
It is such a special tradition and I hope we continue to pass it on through the generations! Thank you!
Melinda Sharp
I remember receiving a card every so often from my ex-husband's uncle with a $50 bill in it or a check with his written instruction that it must be spent on myself to get my hair done. I just loved that he thought of me fondly, one, and two, that he secretly understood how hard it is to be a single mom.

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