Holiday Message

As the Christmas holiday approaches, many different emotions hit people for many different reasons. Of course there was a big holiday just before this,Thanksgiving, and one soon to follow, New Years.

We believe, as do others, that these three holidays, or the Trilogy of Holidays, are put together for a reason.

1^st comes Thanksgiving. This holiday’s origin in our country gives Thanks to the Lord at the end of a harvest season. Since then we have rightfully included giving thanks for the many things in our life. So we reflex on our lives, some recognize and realize that life is good, some reflex and might see room for improvement. Some are thankful for what they have, others are thankful for what they can do to help others or have done. Some people just have a BIG meal, a paid day off from work with some good football games.

Next comes Christmas. We celebrate the birth of Jesus, Son of God. As Kings and Wise men showered him with gifts, we now exchange gifts with each other, friends and loved ones, fellow workers, and even total strangers. Our focus turns to our faith, the depths of which very from a pretty Christmas card with a picture of the Nativity Scene, to reassessment of our believes. We spend this day with family and friends. We go to great expense to travel, share time and gifts, and beliefs with family and friends. Some people just have a BIG meal, a paid day off from work with some good football games.

Finally comes New Years, where we usher in the next Year with great fanfare and remember the Year that is passing. Maybe rejoicing the things we’ve done, laughing at the things we can, mourning things that have left us. We look to the New Year and make promises to others and ourselves to better our life. Maybe we wait to do more this next year; maybe we want to do less. Some people just have a BIG meal, a paid day off from work with some good football games.

On this final and 1^st holiday of the year, maybe it’s a time to think of the other two holidays that just passed. Did we give enough thanks or have enough to be thankful for. Did we remember the real reason for Christmas?

So from our family we wish your family and all our friends a wonderful set of holidays. To Our men and Women of our armed forces, who protect our freedom, Thank you!

We hope you get some time with your families and friends to enjoy the Holidays.