Now that the holiday shopping rush has begun, most of us are making our lists and checking them twice.

Saturday, November 27, 1999

Now that the holiday shopping rush has begun, most of us are making our lists and checking them twice. And, whether or not we believe our loved ones have been naughty or nice all year long, we plan to give them gifts – tokens to show them how much we appreciate their love.

As the Christmas season draws ever closer, we can’t help but take in the childlike, wonderous quality that seems to suspend our county in a special blend of magic and expectation.

But, right here at home, in the same county where we are eagerly anticipating Christmas morning with the bounty of fun and gifts it will surely bring, there are children who have never known the joy of discovering a present beneath the Christmas tree. There are children who understand very early on that Santa Claus is something only other kids get to believe in - because these children know there will be no tree, no presents and no magic moments to look forward to Dec. 25.

In the true spirit of the season, however, we can join together and prove them wrong.

By making sure not one angel is left hanging on the Adopt-An-Angel Christmas tree, we can help every child have the enchanted moment they deserve.

Or, we can start closer to home. Maybe the neighbors have fallen on difficult times, maybe there has been a devastating loss caused by a fire or other tragedy that we have read about in the news. Thursday, we thought of all the things we are thankful for. Surely we have enough to share.

If we take the time to look around our communities and fill the life of even one child with joy on Christmas morning, we can make a difference and teach a lesson of sharing, caring and love that will last a lifetime.