Editorial: Let love and peace be with you all

It’s Christmas time again. A season of peace and joy and, too often, stress.

There is shopping to be done, school programs to attend, community events scheduled, family calendars to be juggled, and all of life’s usual craziness that seems to multiply from Thanksgiving to December 25.

At our office, this is the busiest time of year, which puts Ye Olde Editor on edge and Ye Young Staff on their toes. Then last Tuesday – right before press time – we found out that a major component at our printing plant had suffered a power surge that put everything on hold and ultimately delayed the Enterprise until Thursday of last week.

Use of the word “delay” is really just semantics in this case, however. Our paper for generations has been dated for Thursday even though it typically is distributed on Wednesday. Among other reasons, we keep it this way for situations such as these so that if we’re ever a day “late,” we’re actually right on time.

But when you’re in a weekly routine for years, a disruption like that discombobulates your entire week and your sense of time and place. Add to that, technical failures at home – a garage door opener on the fritz and a fridge taking its dying breaths – and all the typical stuff that goes on this time of year. It’s enough to make you just want to be done with Christmas.

But… then there are the things that really matter. At the top of the list, of course, would be the birth of our Savior and all the hope, joy, and love that this season is meant to convey. This is why we celebrate and ought to the focus of every day.

Looking at things through the eyes of a child helps put things into their proper perspective. The joy they get from just driving around looking at Christmas lights, the excitement they exhibit in the days leading up to Santa’s arrival, and all the wishes and dreams they talk about as December 25 gets closer and closer.

And then they can turn on a dime, put all the toys and “things” aside, and drive home what it’s all about. Like all kids, ours have a list of toys they hope to receive next week. But after their mother had shoulder surgery last week, Ben sat down by himself this weekend and wrote another letter to Santa. “I want my moms sholder to be fixed by December 24” so she can open presents, he wrote.

Never mind the train, the truck, and the “stuff.” Putting others above yourself is what we need to remember, and most importantly, we must all cherish the time we are given with our friends and families. We are not promised one more day, so we must take every opportunity we have to love each other, care for each other, and enjoy each other.

If you have your parents or grandparents, spend extra time with them… even if it’s just over the phone… because the time will come when you wish you could. Never take for granted your time with family.

May this season wrap you and your family in love, forgiveness, and joy and inspire you with a sense of charity to all. That is what Jesus taught us, and that is the greatest Christmas gift of all.

Merry Christmas from our family to yours.