Oh Christmas, how wonderful you are. Your holiday brings time off requests for families to visit, the excuse to bulk up this season on delicious home cooked meals, and a sense of gratitude that brings people together to help out those in need.
Houston by all accounts embodies the spirit of Christmas.
It has been a pleasure to report on all the joyous Christmas events in town. From Christmas concerts at the elementary andsecondary schools, to winter sports like hockey, ringette, figure skating, and curling. Not mention all the hard work that getsput into the annual fundraisers for the Salvation Army food bank, and most of all, it’s been an honour to write about all thegroups and companies coming together to support the families of Nadina Truck Service after the devastating building fire.
No one should be without a meal on Christmas, nor feel alone or unsupported, especially after a traumatic event such as this.And I am personally inspired and impressed with how our community has pulled together after one unfortunate event to thenext.
The spirit of Houston roars, “we may be small, but we have each other.”
Being apart of a small community can be a blessing and a challenge. It’s a fine like that battles between complacency andrestlessness. Between comfort and change.
And Houston, it would appear that the universe doesn’t like us very much. Maybe it’s the economy. Maybe it’s random acts ofGod. But maybe, it is not all without a purpose.
Maybe, just maybe, the integrity of the town is being tested. A choice being asked, and Houston has chosen to rise.
Come fire or empty grocery stores, come mill or mine closures, come at us! We are still standing.
They say that there is a silver-lining to all dark clouds. Houston is the silver, and the people in this community are the lining.
There is no end to the compassion and empathy this community demonstrates. It is what makes binds us, encourages us tokeep going. It is the spirit of Houston.
Merry Christmas!
