Merry Christmas everybody!

Christmas is upon us and most people seem to be working hard at the last minute just to find time to relax and enjoy the traditions of the holiday.

Christmas can mean different things to people, but regardless of belief, there is a consensus it is a time for family.

We celebrate the birth of Christ as part of his family.

We purchase presents for our children, parents and siblings as tokens of affection for our families.

For the Scrooges who show disdain for the religious and secular celebrations, they find time to spend with friends sharing their beliefs. And, good friends are hand picked family.

Each person has their own ideas of what is the magic of Christmas. It might be Christ’s birthday or thrilling our children with the story of Santa or sharing the story of how God made a lamp burn for eight days with only one day’s worth of olive oil. It might be something as simple as still finding reasons to laugh at the movie “A Christmas Story.”

To us, the magic is a time of year when we can relax a little more than usual, be more generous than usual and be thankful for everyone’s reasons for Christmas. Just as snow helps muffle the sounds of the cities or passing cars on the highway, Christmas has a way of muffling everyday frustrations, anxiety and stress. For a short time, we find peace.

Beyond the presents, Christmas tree, holiday meal and traditional entertainment, please remember to share the magic of Christmas with everyone around you. Share your reasons for Christmas magic and enjoy the miracle the holiday brings to the Columbia Basin.

We wish you and your family a Merry Christmas, a wonderful New Year and very happy holidays.

— Editorial board