For most of us, the holiday season is a time of plenty: friends, family and coworkers visit bearing holiday baking and each weekend brings another party or gathering full of cheer.
Christmas Day brings the season of celebration to its crescendo: all those carefully-wrapped presents are ripped open; stockings of chocolates and goodies are emptied onto the floor; egg nog and spiced rum are introduced and hit it off smashingly; snow glistens in the sunshine outside as logs crackle merrily in the fireplace (or on the flatscreen TV) inside; bottles are uncorked and Uncle Frank starts getting corked; and friends and family gather for the biggest feast of the year - Christmas dinner.
Amid the chaos and stress of your last-minute preparations, take a moment to appreciate the simple blessings we too often take for granted: a roof over your head, food in the fridge, a loving family and a warm, safe place to sleep.
Tonight, while you're tucked snug in your bed, others will be bedding down in homeless shelter cots, flophouses and crack shacks.
While you tuck into your Christmas feast, others will be lining up at St. Vincent du Paul or the Salvation Army for their only hot meal of the day.
While you laugh and joke with friends and family, others will pray the cycle of abuse which dominates their life will not flare up today - of sitting alone just waiting for the phone call or visit which will never come.
But it's not too late to make someone's Christmas a little brighter.
Start a new family Christmas tradition today: sign up to volunteer with the Salvation Army, St. Vincent du Paul or another worthy cause; round up those excess holiday treats and donate them to one of the local food banks; invite a neighbour who has no family in town to spend Christmas dinner with your family; or ask guests to make a donation to a worthy cause rather than bring bottles or wine to dinner.
It takes so little to make a world of difference to someone in need, and we are so rich in blessings, how can you not? Putting a smile on a child, senior or person in need's face is the best gift you can give yourself this Christmas.
To all the volunteers who gave time away from their families to help others this season, we salute you.
To everyone who tipped a little spare change into a Salvation Army kettle - you have changed more than you know.
And to everyone who made time to make a difference in someone's life, well done.
From the staff of the Prince George Citizen, all the best to you and yours this Christmas season.
-- Prince George Citizen
