This year as we celebrate Christmas, it would be refreshing if we could focus on the Christmas message of peace, tolerance and love that the Christ child brought to us more than two thousand years ago. It is a time to think of those less fortunate than ourselves and make a commitment to help them not just at this season of cheer but throughout the coming year.
I believe that we should focus on the gifts that keep on giving such as a commitment to help the aged and infirm one day each week or to engage in voluntary community service. The gift of learning for people of all ages is a particularly valuable gift that lasts forever. To my mind, it is also a time to teach the younger generation more about the joy of giving than receiving. It seems that this is a lesson that is learnt all too late in life, and sadly, one that far too many never learn at all.
There is nothing like the magic of Christmas and the wonderment and joy that it brings to so many children around the globe. Despite the extreme commercialization of the season children often teach us that it is the simplest of gifts that mean the most because of the spirit in which it is given and the special love that bonds those that give and receive.
Most importantly it is a time for family and friends to come together, sharing friendship, good cheer and fond memories of Christmases past. In so doing we might well benefit from extending the spirit of Christmas and the good fellowship of man well beyond the Christmas season by strengthening community self reliance and releasing many from the culture of mendicancy.
The gifts that keep on giving are the most valuable of all. Knowledge, self respect, community involvement and a sense of achievement are worth more than material things and far more enduring.
I wish my readers a very Merry and Blessed Christmas and thank all those who serve and protect the community that we are so privileged to live in. I also extend a special thanks to all those service organizations who generously give to the needy and ill, not only at this time, but all the year round.
Finally as we sit down to our Christmas luncheons or dinners I raise a toast to the absent ones, Merry Christmas to all and be of good cheer.
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