Christmas Time is Here!
Merry Christmas! We just celebrated our country’s Day of Thanksgiving and there is much for which we can be thankful. One of my constant challenges is remembering to be thankful even when my circumstances seem to be poor. Reaching out and serving others who are in need is one way to put things into perspective and to help me to be grateful for all of my blessings. The joy of giving always overpowers any other thought that may be captivating my feelings of sorrow.
This month we celebrate Christmas, and for many Americans, it is a holiday that recognizes the birth of Jesus Christ, our Savior. For others it is a holiday that recognizes the season of giving and helping others. Regardless of any of our differences, we should all join together and help those who are less fortunate.
Marion County has one of the highest poverty levels in Oregon, which means that there are a number of opportunities to reach out and serve others. Within Marion County, there are many great assets, including charitable organizations, non profits, and churches. We have individual families and collective communities that provide an opportunity for us to get outside of our own four walls and meet those needs. In addition, we have individuals and businesses that have been blessed with the talents and ability to create jobs and wealth in our community. These individuals and businesses provide an integral part of the resources from which our churches and non profits operate to meet the needs in our communities.
We need more individuals and businesses that can create wealth, raising the standard of living for all who live here. One of the best gifts we can receive is the opportunity to work and the ability to provide for ourselves and our families. Those who have been gifted to create jobs are truly a blessing to our community. We should not look down on them or project guilt because they have created wealth; rather, we should recognize them for their talents, encourage them and thank them for taking risks in order to provide opportunities for others to experience the joy of work and self-reliance.
Have a wonderful Christmas, and thank you for serving others in our community during this holiday season!
