Christmas is here; make a difference

Published 12:00 am Friday, December 1, 2000

Staff Editorial

Nov. 30, 2000 10 PM

If the chill doesn’t remind us that Christmas is just around the corner, then the decorations up throughout the city should.

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When the annual Troy Christmas parade, the city launched a new season of joy and hope in which we can all come together and unite to help make the community of Pike County great and bring a little more hope about the promise of tomorrow.

Christmas is a time when we should remember the sacrifices others have made for us and for our prosperity.

The tradition dates back to the most symbolic figure western civilization has ever known. He was a man who gave himself willingly so that all who followed him could be cleansed of their sins and misdeeds by their faith. Perhaps, some may argue, his sacrifice wasn’t as great as the one his father made when he gave his only son up to make the future brighter for us all.

Those sacrifices spawned a new age for mankind and many great men have, following these incredible examples, given up themselves for their causes.

Whether it was a willingness to die in battle to protect friends and family, or the willingness of great leaders to sacrifice themselves for the causes in which they passionately believed, many great people helped shape life as we now know it.

Christmas is a time to honor God’s commitment to humanity and Jesus Christ’s sacrifice so that all generations that followed him would have a chance for salvation. And it’s a time to remember that we are all bound by the blood of Christ and the sacrifices our ancestors made for our freedom and prosperity.

Throughout Pike County, stockings are beginning to line mantles and trees adorned with a symbolic star or angel are glowing with light.

Troy State University has held its annual tree lighting and a parade has marched through downtown Troy.

Children are buzzing with excitement wondering what gifts will await their excited eyes when they awaken on December 25.

And while all of these things have become part of our tradition, we should be sure to allow them to send our thoughts to those who made this season so special. And we should use that opportunity to look into ourselves and see what we may be able to do to make someone’s life a little brighter.

Whether it’s a simple act of kindness or a generous donation made to someone who is in a time of need, Christmas is special and we should honor its rich history by trying to make the world a little better than it was before our arrival.

Small acts of kindness will be rewarded exponentially through the goodwill they create and the feeling of warmth they bring us.

As you buy gifts for your parents and children, remember what Christmas is about and why it is that we honor it. Remember that it’s a special time of the year that offers us all a chance to do something to better serve our fellow man.

Cherish it and seize the opportunity to make the world a brighter place.  

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