A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
A hometown newspaper with a local office, local owners & lots of local news
“Best Christmas Ever” is a popular charity with local roots. Founded by Don Liimatainen after his family surprised him during a particularly harsh Christmas a few years ago, the movement has spread nationwide. It’s a beautiful story.
But this isn’t about BCE. Rather, it’s about how events like “Best Christmas Ever” have a much wider effect than their mission.
Such movements often motivate us to become more charitable in our lives, more generous to those who are not as fortunate as us, and more content with the blessings we have. Such good feelings propel us throughout the year, make us all better people and, in turn, a better community.
The “Loaves and Fishes” Bible story about Jesus feeding the multitudes with just a few loaves of bread and two small fish was truly a miracle. Many scholars believe the true miracle was that all the gathered people contributed all their own picnic lunches to the others in the community, a sort of biblical potluck. The spirit of community overtook the interests of self-preservation, and those who had more fed those who may have had less.
Most of our children know all about Santa Claus, Elf on a Shelf and the Christmas tree. But many of them also understand that the Christmas season is about the birth of Jesus, both a solemn and joyous occasion. Unlike Easter, where someone dies, at Christmas we celebrate someone’s birth. To the eyes of a child, that means presents, celebration and cookies. To adults, it often means the same things.
Events like “Best Christmas Ever” and the Salvation Army Red Kettle campaign, Toys for Tots and donations to the food shelf and countless other not-so-publicized acts of kindness though the holiday season help the community, and ourselves, remember that Christmas is a time of peace, celebration, selflessness, reflection and community. The same spirit propels us throughout the year, fueled in large part by the sense of community we get during the holiday season.
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays from all of us at your Pine Knot News community newspaper.
