The greatest gift you can give

Christmas is special no matter where you spend it. But for those of us born and raised here, there’s no better place than the Columbia Basin to spend the holiday. Family and friends abound and traditions hold strong.

Something very comforting can be found in tradition, in having things that are predictable and stable, things to look forward to each year. Those things can be as special as gathering family from near and far at the table on Christmas Day or as lovely as hanging that special ornament on the tree or as goofy as gathering with friends for a fun gift exchange. The cool thing about traditions is they are your own and you make them what you want.

So this is Christmas, not Thanksgiving, but it is still a time to be thankful. We have it pretty good here. Our economy is strong, our weather is mostly mild and our community is generous to those who are less privileged. It’s a time when many of us give back. And that only makes us stronger as a whole.

Finding your holiday giving tradition will bring joy to you as well as to the beneficiary. Maybe you don’t follow the same path each year toward helping your fellow man, but it’s taking the path that matters. Even if you don’t feel like you have much to spare in a particular year, giving of your time can be just as important.

So here’s to the givers and the caretakers who help make this season bright. Let’s refocus on what’s truly important: family, friends and folks who may need a little assist this time of year. We can all find ways to be better, to treat others how we’d want to be treated, and to make a difference that is truly impactful. And don’t let it end with the passing of the holidays — let’s spend the next year making an even greater contribution to our community. It’s the greatest gift you can give.

Merry Christmas!

This story was originally published December 23, 2015 at 5:40 PM with the headline "The greatest gift you can give."