Dec. 24, 2024

Dear Reader:

I’ve been writing this column for years.  And some of you have been reading it along with the rest of us every Christmas Eve, for years. But it has never been the same column every year. It is new each time. From year to year there are some minor changes, although the general form remains the same:  from the petitions of the Holy Greek Orthodox Liturgy. I do not reprint or cut and paste, but I write every word fresh so that the words are always green in my heart and spirit. So every word has meaning in my soul. Most times columns can take hours, even days. This one took about 30 minutes. I know I had help. I could feel it, like an angel on my shoulder. Some years ago, an editor at the paper—a former Roman Catholic altar boy—wondered aloud that it sounded like a prayer to him. I smiled and said yes, it sounded that way to me, too.  Merry Christmas everyone.

JK=

For all the children who should be loved always, but especially on this night, with our arms wrapped around them and a long goodnight kiss on the temple, a kiss more precious than anything that could ever be wrapped in a box.

And for every parent who stands quietly in the darkened doorways of the bedrooms, watching those small, sleeping shapes.

For every baby who isn’t loved enough and grows up with a hard crust around his heart because there was no one near to plant those kisses and give those hugs.

And for every couple so full of love that they adopt a child to save a life.