Christmas spirit can be thinking of others

Last weekend while shopping in a Colfax thrift store with my friend, I realized that I had left my wallet at home. I found a booklet on gardens for one dollar and asked my friend for a dollar. Although she did have her wallet with her, she had no cash, so back went the booklet to its bin. As I began to head towards the exit, a masked stranger held out his hand and said Merry Christmas. In his hand was a dollar bill. He was insistent that I take it and buy the booklet. What a generous and unexpected act of kindness.

It has been another challenging year for many people. There have been economic concerns with the high price of gas and many food items. The unseasonably hot summer temperatures and drought conditions took a toll on the wheat harvests. COVID continued to be a scourge in our lives and a huge disrupter for another year. It has led to unemployment, illness, anxiety and even death. There is so much fatigue in dealing with it. It has affected families, schools, businesses, and our lives in so many ways. For many it has contributed to their financial challenges in addition to the supply chain issues and inflation. It continues to mutate to more infectious forms and it will continue to mutate as long as there is enough of it around to infect persons.

One of the best things that happened in 2021 is that safe and effective vaccines against COVID became available. Children 5 years and older can now be vaccinated. If you are vaccinated, make sure you are fully vaccinated by getting a third dose six months after your second dose no matter which vaccine you may have initially received.

The holiday season often brings out the best in people. Beyond the holiday season’s religious significance, the season also represents giving, generosity, caring, kindness and love of others. You may not be in situation to give a dollar to a stranger, but you can be caring, generous, kind and show your love to many strangers by getting vaccinated.