Once again the holiday season has brought out the best in the people who live in this quaint and beautiful region of the country. Those who had anything extra this year gave to the many who had little or nothing in the true spirit of the holidays.

There were festive dinners held all over the Seacoast for those did not have the ability to come up with one themselves. The Toys for Tots campaign and local organizations collected and distributed gifts for children who may not have gotten anything from Santa this year without those efforts, and neighbors in communities gathered all across the region for tree-lightings and caroling in the true spirit of the season.

Perhaps the economic challenges of this past year will encourage us to not only appreciate the true meaning of Christmas but also to embrace the true spirit of Christmas.  Too often people tend to focus upon the apparent rampant commercialism of the holiday season and keeping up with, if not ahead of, our neighbors.

Recent announcements by Sears and other companies may indicate that I’m engaging in a bit of wishful thinking. Before October was over, Sears announced they would begin their holiday season with a “Black Friday Sale” long before the traditional Friday after Thanksgiving sale.