Good morning. Happy Hanukkah to all. These past few days have we have once again been humbled by the generosity of so many. Unfortunately we also were reminded that not all are so generous, and at times even selfish. On Monday I learned via a post on this page about a family that had set up a Holiday light display in a neighboring town and were asking those that came by to donate to Mike. Due to our hectic lives Chris had forgot to mention that the Kloos family had asked her if it was alright to do so. Early yesterday morning, we learned while Chris and I were enjoying a very rare and much needed breakfast out together that the collection box set up outside the Kloos home was stolen. We were contacted by several news agencies asking if we would talk about the Kloos Family Lights. We immediately reached out to the Kloos family and asked what they thought. They advised us that the media had already contacted them and were on their way to their home. When Chris and I arrived back home a CBS News crew was waiting to do an interview with us. Having got the OK from the Kloos family we sat down for an interview which aired at 6pm last evening. For those that dont know the details let me share what we have just learned with you. For approximately the last ten years the Kloos family has set up a very festive light show at their home. Each year Billy and Ryan Kloos, two very talented and generous young men start in September working close to 500 hours a piece to put the synchronized light show together. Not only to make their home very beautiful and exciting but also as a way of paying it forward, by soliciting donations from the visitors for a cause dear to their hearts. This year Billy and Ryan decided to make Mike the benefactor. Ryan and Mike worked together at Shop Rite for a while before Mike was injured. Other than their work experience together the only other thing that The Nichols and Kloos family had in common were that both families are part of an extended family, the Family of Man. Last evening Chris and I had the honor of meeting the Kloos family and seeing the wonderful display as various media outlets came to tell the story. We once again were shown just how many wonderful, caring and selfless people there are in The Family of Man. Unfortunately not every one of us can display the goodness that resides in us all. Since Monday morning we have had many contractors that are part of an organization called NADRA, which stands for North American Deck And Railing Association. This is a group of private contractors that donate their time and expertise to help others, by building accessible ramps and decks for strangers. We were blessed to have anywhere from 5 to 15 different contractors over the last three days donate their services to make it possible for Mike to access his newly renovated space and be able to enjoy some outdoor time with his friends and family. We thank them as they gave of themselves for others. As the Holiday season is upon us we often forget what these holidays are about. Legend says that Hanukkah is the celebration of the rededication of The Holy Temple in Jerusalem that had been desecrated in 165 bc. When the Maccabees drove their oppressors from the Holy Temple they wanted to purify their Temple by burning ritual oil for eight days, to their dismay only about one days worth of oil was left, but miraculously this oil burned for eight days. Thus the miracle of Hanukkah. Next week many of us will celebrate another miraculous event the birth of Jesus Christ. In our celebrations of these two holidays we often forget what their meaning truly is. To our family in this season of miracles we will reflect on how miracles do happen and trust that more miracles will come our way in time. We know just having Mike here with us after many months of setbacks and challenges is nothing short of a miracle. Many of you have asked how you can help replace the donations that were stolen from the Kloos home. In this season of giving we would ask all of you that can to donate to the ReeveBigIdea.org. So as not to just help Mike but to hopefully help many others as well living with the burden of paralysis on a daily basis. We refuse to allow one Scrooge to effect our trust in the Family Of Man. After all even Ebenezer Scrooge ultimately found the goodness inside him to help Bob Cratchit and his family. In the words of Tiny Tim GOD BLESS US, EVERYONE OF US Thank You Chris and Steve
Posted on: Wed, 17 Dec 2014 21:30:31 +0000
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