Each year at Christmas time I begin to realize once again the number of people who have touched my life. Some of them are close family members, some are strangers, some just people who know my name, but all of them are special folks who have been kind, generous, or loving at some point during the year. Christmas Angels are there all year long, touching our lives and giving us that feeling of love and caring.

Last year, a special Christmas Angel touched the lives of my children and myself, in a dire moment of need, he stepped in and held my hand, literally through one of the worst moments Ive ever experienced. While he stood to gain nothing, he touched my heart with kindness. One moment of caring that will last a lifetime. His only request was that I pass it on. He asked that I give someone else a gentle touch of love, somewhere down the line.

Another moment in time, another man, gentle and kind reached out and touched a child with a kindness I saw, allowed to watch, I saw him shape the future of a young man, giving him hope he had lost. A childs life changed in that moment. He knew he was cared for and loved. Ive seen the child since, and hes made a difference he may not have made, if not for the gentle caring touch of a man who cared. The man asked the child to pass it on.

Christmas Angels give more than they receive, and offer far more than they ever give. They are those who keep the flicker of hope moving throughout our world, when love, faith, and joy have flickered out. These miracle providers step in and relight the candles of love, faith and joy with a flame so brilliant, it promises to burn forever, the light of hope.

Ive been the recipient of that flicker of light, called hope. I can only hope youve met a Christmas Angel who has touched your life, given you hope when you thought all was lost, and reached out to you, when you felt unreachable.

Ive also been that flicker of light, in the eye of a child needing a hand, a hug, a gift of love. It is the most joyous moment you will ever experience. Just the touching of a hand, the feel of love and life flowing through you to another human being is an experience worth giving.

If you want to be a Christmas Angel, it doesnt require much, anyone can do it, but you have to reach out to someone in need. Give them a hand, and a smile, and tell them they are loved. The moment you give your life will change. Dont let this season disappear from time, or the year go by without giving a blessing to someone near you.

Jan Verhoeff

Somewhere between college and life, Jan began to focus on other people. Her intense need to feel accomplishment in her life drove her to finding a deeper contentment than just existing in the hoot 'n holler of southeastern Colorado. While the beauty of the prairie never escaped her eye for color and beauty, the intensity of her desire kept her moving ever onward.

Summers in Michigan and Tennessee brought her closer to something, but it wasn't until much later, as an adult, mother of four that she began to understand that her need for accomplishment included sharing what she had learned along the way. It also meant that her talent for painting the dream and writing her thoughts had a lot to do with her accomplishments.

She began to focus on actually writing down her thoughts and ideas in journals, revealing her prayer thoughts and life events. Bits of paper became treasures of memory, and a notebook became an outlet of hope and a step of faith. Jan put her thoughts on paper, and began to publish them, where she found opportunity, including various magazines, trade journals, and local publications. Her interests in business and new enterprise became a resounding outlet for her talent, and wisdom for those who sought it. Jan's interest in business development became her trademark, resulting in her first book publication in !992, "Building a Business: From Scratch". This 22 page booklet was published by a local printer in a vertical brochure format, selling more than a thousand copies nation wide. It has resurfaced in college classes as the basis for college term papers, graduate thesis, and research documents for small business courses over the past 13 years.

Seeking more diverse outlets for her talents, Jan most recently has written several short stories published in various books, including: "Stories for the Trail" with the Lamar Writer's Group, "Prickly Points of Life" a combination poetry/short story collection of Jan's work, and "Coffee Clatter" a bound collection of written works originally published in a newsletter published by her daughter, Brenna, as a Sophomore Year Project when she was homeschooling at Buchanan Academy.

More recently her work is available in a newsletter she publishes weekly via email, and various blogs listed on the right side of this page.

You may contact Jan at: janverhoeff@yahoo.com