There are two holidays during the year that always make us deeply grateful for what we have.
Thanksgiving is the obvious one. The other one is Christmas. Yes, it’s an adopted Christian holiday cobbled together with ancient pagan rites and rituals that have little to do with Jesus Christ. But this holiday, like so many others, is not about its historic origins but the feelings we hold for it. How it touches us in so many non-religious and religious ways. How it evokes memories of family, travel, of laughter, joy – and, yes, even sadness. Of people missing from our lives, of family long lost. Or of family members reunited after too long absences.
Not everyone celebrates Christmas, but there are few who can remain untouched by the sentimentality of the songs, the generosity of spirit and the theme of charity.
This Christmas is no different.
We are reminded how blessed we are in so many ways. We reside in a peaceful country, surrounded, for the most part, by kindred spirits who hope for the best for others. We have doctors and nurses who work hard to keep us well, firefighters and police officers who work tirelessly to keep us safe, and strangers who will come to our assistance if we ask.
Most of us will be able to wake up on Christmas morning knowing that there is a good meal to be shared with family or friends in the making.
We are also reminded of how fragile life can be. Not a day goes by when we don’t hear of some accident that claims the life of someone who just happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time. Just this past week, New Westminster’s Queen’s Park Arenex collapsed under the weight of wet snow. It is almost miraculous that workers heard a crunching sound and were able to get out before the building collapsed. On another Monday at another time, that building could have been filled with children or sports fans. The unthinkable could have happened. But it didn’t. For that, we know there are many in this city who are grateful. And we are among them.
We hope that this Christmas all of our readers, and everyone near and far, stays safe, gets many hugs and smiles, breaks bread with family and friends and joins us in counting our blessings.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays. No matter what you celebrate, enjoy every moment.
