Merry Christmas to all, and to all a happy, relaxing holiday … and some great musical classics to go with it!
(Editor’s note: click on the links to get some of the greatest Christmas music ever recorded.)
Merry Christmas to family and friends. They are our most valued treasures, and they grow more precious by the year. Give thanks for the people who love and care for you.
Merry Christmas to the seniors, to the folks who built your community, raised their families, paid the taxes, helped their neighbors, endured tough times and created happiness and joy. They are now in their final chapters, looking back at the decisions they made and the lives they built.
That included a lot of Christmases, many trees, presents and bills. They are dealing with the joys and challenges of growing older, but also are aware of the privilege they have been granted, one denied to many. I wish them a warm and happy time.
Merry Christmas to the children. This season is extra special to them, as they dance with delight at the stories, music and traditions they are learning. There might be a matter of presents, too.
Christmas through the eyes of a child is a special joy for all.
Merry Christmas to the pastors and priests and others who offer spiritual guidance. This most holy time of year is dedicated to the blessings provided to us through the grace of God and the birth of Jesus Christ. I believe our non-Christian friends and neighbors enjoy this season of love and hope as well.
Merry Christmas to the people at work this holiday, from law enforcement officers, dispatchers, firefighters, EMTs, nurses, doctors and others who provide necessary services at a time when most of the community gathers with loved ones.
These people do their duty willingly to ensure all of us can rest easy on special days. Think of them when you sit down to eat or share good times with family and friends. It’s their service that allows us to do so in peace.
Merry Christmas to farmers. They work long hours to provide the sustenance we rely on, while bucking the tidal waves of economic and political upheaval. It’s a passion as much as a career for these individuals.
The hectic harvest is behind them and the busy spring season awaits. We hope they enjoy a brief respite now.
Merry Christmas to educators. Teachers, professors, administrators and staffers provide the training and guidance our young people need. They are not highly paid or often recognized, and they go beyond their regular assignments to ensure their charges have the materials needed to learn.
I give them all straight A’s today.
Merry Christmas to the workers who keep our communities, region, state and world humming. They raise the food, stock the stores, sell gas and milk, clear snow, mend streets and do so many other chores. They are the backbone of all communities.
I wish them a day at home with family, a chance to sleep in, enjoy a leisurely meal and a relaxing conversation filled with laughter. They have earned it.
Merry Christmas to the people who are struggling today. We all go through difficult times, and there are many who are doing so now. Their physical or mental health might be an issue now. They could be dealing with substance-abuse issues, legal problems or personal issues.
They might not have an invitation to a table filled with food, and there may be no brightly colored packages awaiting them under a tree. It might be a cold, lonely Christmas for them.
Give these folks a thought. Consider how you might help ease their pain, perhaps by inviting them over to your office, dropping off a plate of food or just with a smile, a wave and a holiday greeting. That’s the spirit of Christmas.
Fourth-generation South Dakotan Tom Lawrence has written for several newspapers and websites in South Dakota and other states for four decades. He has contributed to The New York Times, NPR, The London Telegraph, The Daily Beast and other media outlets. Do not republish without permission.
Photo: public domain, wikimedia commons
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