Remembering the less fortunate this festive season

Many of us will recall the excitement when waiting for the “ho, ho, ho” of the expected Santa. Others were never visited by either Santa, a neighbour nor anyone else.
Today, there are more than there should be of those who, due to the experiences of recent years and for some reason or other such as a lack of adequate income, will suffer during the present situation.
However, we should picture the real joy that is shared when friends and neighbours bring others from a dreary, solitary, coldness  into the fold of Christian recollection, whether they are “religious” or not. We in Ireland are noted as a caring people. Especially at Christmas, we should live up to our expectation with regards to the elderly, the infirm, those who are suffering from a lack of a home or where there are unhappy children.
That having been said we should, while enjoying the Christmas experience, recognise that the world keeps on working thanks to the dedication of volunteers, public servants and the like, who are too seldom acknowledged. Let me elucidate.
Every year, especially but not only in rural areas, there are citizens who are elderly or living alone or both. In towns, there are people who have hit bad times, some sleeping in doorways like stray animals, others reviled. Who are we to question why? The great charitable societies don’t ask questions or discriminate as to whom they help. These people are so happy when someone knocks at their door or puts an arm on their shoulder, even merely for a chat or an expression of warmth. A small, token gift or a little assistance, say, to repair a broken item or bring in the fuel, is even more welcome. Indeed, one of the loneliest places I ever spent Christmas was London. Everybody else seemed happy and to be enjoying themselves. Those who do something for such people are wonderful and can get a tremendous kick out of their efforts, often with a deep spiritual experience. If you have someone living nearby that you can call on, do please do so. Not only might you help them but by doing so you also will be better for it.
The past year resulted in thousands of hard-working people out of work, broke or homeless. Often they have youngsters who themselves – although usually resilient at this age – are missing traditional celebrations. There are great souls who help to alleviate their fears. These deserve our sincere thanks.
Although to the forefront are our gardaí, nurses, doctors and other medical personnel, postmen, mail sorters and deliverers, teachers and social workers, public service maintenance personnel, ESB engineers and experts, lifeboat and rescue organisations, charities such as St Vincent de Paul, the Somalia shops, Trócaire and Christian Aid, there are thousands of others, many of them volunteers, who have done and will continue to do that bit extra to give comfort to the needy. We thank them all.
And then there are all those almost unseen and too often ignored or forgotten citizens who helped us to enjoy ourselves. There are the cooks who deal with the Christmas dinners; the bakers who provide the bread; the convenience stores who come to the rescue when items are forgotten or mislaid just as guests arrive; the mothers who prepare their children and the fathers who man the steering wheels; the farmers who feed their animals, as they do all year round; the bus and train drivers and a host of others, not forgetting the clergy and musicians.
Perhaps good advice is to treat others as one would like oneself to be treated, to remember that it is other people who keep the world going and, for Christians, it is Christ himself who should be followed. We can all fail otherwise.

BLACK SPOT
Greens, Green legislators and governments who fail in their duty to treat all citizens equally. Too many of them are from urban environments and lack an understanding as to how country life has to maintain itself with the help of the people who actually try to survive there.
GOOD MARK
Neighbours and others who go out of their way to help or make themselves aware to others, especially older people and children.
WEEK’S TIP
Have a joyous and happy Christmas but be aware of such hazards as fire and remember to control alcoholic consumption, especially if in control of a vehicle or looking after vulnerable people. No doubt we celebrate the birth of someone who was not averse to a bit of fun. Santa knows that too, I’m sure, as he calls out “ho, ho, ho”.