A Special Holiday

Christmas is a busy season, but also one that invites reflection on the things that touch us deeply.

Whether it is wrapping presents, sending cards or attending a Christmas party, we find ourselves trying to connect with each other in a meaningful way. We value our relationships.

A McClatchy paper - must be excerpted.

Today, on Christmas Eve, there's so much bad news being reported. Not that there's anything wrong with that - the news is what it is and should be reported regardless of what day it is. Even stories with happy endings--of helping strangers in times of need, charitable acts to those less fortunate than ourselves--they all have a "back story" of violence, heartbreak, or other human suffering that preceded the acts of kindness. In the past I've found these stories to be uplifting and encouraging. But this year I've lost everything that mattered in my life. So I've been searching online for news to lift my spirits, give me a sense of hope and, most important, keep me from feeling sorry for myself. I found what I was looking for in this editorial from a paper in Watertown, a small town in upstate New York.

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