Merry Christmas!

Here’s to all of the public safety first responders, retail clerks, hospitality workers, delivery people, medical care providers and everyone who will be on duty today and who have spent the last week dealing with shoppers, revelers and the public in general. Take a bow, you’re the unsung heroes of the holidays.

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Throughout the year in our communities I witness such extraordinary generosity for causes and individuals. I see the generous gift of time, talent and treasure and hearts that embrace making life better for their neighbors. While the spirit of giving is abundant during the holiday season I’m grateful that each and every day of each and every month someone is helping someone else.

The efforts may be done quietly and without fanfare but they happen and they matter.

In the coming year there will still be those who struggle to overcome circumstances beyond their control. Here’s to all who step up and in with a helping hand, kind word or listening ear.

One person can and does make a difference. Let’s all pledge to be that person.

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The Christmas carol, “I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day” is based on the 1863 poem “Christmas Bells” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow. The song recounts despair while hearing Christmas bells during the American Civil War. “Hate is strong and mocks the song of peace on earth, good will to men.”

But the last verse carries renewed hope.

“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;

The Wrong shall fail,

The Right prevail,

With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

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Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and never brought to mind.

Should auld acquaintance be forgot, and auld lang syne

For auld lang syne, my dear, for auld lang syne,

we’ll take a cup of kindness yet, for auld lang syne.

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Happy Christmas Day birthdays to Bonnie Fossum, Patricia Kraus, Lisa Brown, Andy Crateau, Chuck Odd, Patricia Batchelder and Ron Raynor who share a birthday with Jesus. Stephanie Herman, Cherry Heitstuman, Tom Coit, David Adland, Lisa Hoffeld, Roxanne Gunther, Lisa Herzog, Wendy Primm, Karen Tarr, Teri Burch and Elizabeth Anderson’s birthdays are the day after Christmas.

On Friday Ann Burg, Marc Stewart, Linda Shaver, Jayson Cornwell, Sandy Coleman, Larry Ruff, Butch Peacock, Doreen Irving, Ron Branson and Sally Hart celebrate another trip around the sun. On Saturday Chris Holloway, Tim Heidecker, Sharon Cooper, Annie McCloskey, Lynda Thurman and George Rodkey mark the anniversary of their birth.

On Sunday wish Jaime Johnson, Molly Shaw, Tammy Engen, Debbie Trimble, Kathy Carothers, Toni Capaul, Sheila Wayman, Connie Haggerty, John Martin, Rachel Pen and Jamie Rowen a happy birthday. Blowing out the candles on Monday are Paul Gorringe, Glenn Jacklin, Gayle Jacklin Stegmann, Marsha Dornquast, Nona Rambo, Bryce Raynor, Ilene Moss, Kalia Baltzell, Diane Ahlers, Dave Dutro, Tamara Poelstra and LeVenia Jacobson. New Year’s Eve birthdays belong to Cheryl Freeman, Kalia Baltzell, Sarah Chase, George Holcomb, Phyllis Koepsell, Shaun Leary, Sandy Thompson and Crystal Dean.

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Kerri Rankin Thoreson is a member of the National Society of Newspaper Columnists and the former publisher of the Post Falls Tribune. Main Street appears every Wednesday in The Press and Kerri can be contacted on Facebook or via email mainstreet@cdapress.com. Follow her on Twitter @kerrithoreson.