聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 聽 Christmas often brings out the best in people. We open our hearts. We look for opportunities to give.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 But what is really amazing is the number of people who keep this Christmastime spirit alive the entire year.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I may be completely biased but I happen to think we have an abundance of those people in Saskatchewan.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Like employees at a Saskatchewan oil company, who, in the middle of great financial stress in their industry, lent a helping hand.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 They raised more than $130,000 to help an injured co-worker and his family when they needed that support the most.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Like the 100-year-old gentleman from Maple Creek who is not sure how many years he has been volunteering; maybe 40; maybe 50, maybe even 60.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 And he says he鈥檚 going to go on as long as he can. And I believe he will.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Like the community of Meadow Lake who banded together to raise money for a local musician facing a medical crisis.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 She gave the gift of her love for music to others. Now a gift of love is returning to her.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I am so proud to be a fellow citizen of this province.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 I can鈥檛 say enough about the many, many people in our province who give up their time and energy to those in need of some help and maybe even some encouragement.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 People who understand what it means to shine a light into someone else鈥檚 life; knowing that one small candle in the midst of darkness can spread light and hope.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 At Christmas, we celebrate the birth of a tiny baby: the Light of the World.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The Son of God who stepped down from heaven and came to walk among us.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 To heal us, to love us, to live as we live.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 And His message of love and peace has not changed in over 2,000 years.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 It is still the message of Christmas today: joy to the world, the Lord has come.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 This year let鈥檚 continue to share joy and peace, and spread love and good will to those around us. Together let鈥檚 shine our light and make a difference.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 So from me and my wife Tami, and our family, and on behalf of my colleagues in the Government of Saskatchewan:聽
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 May the blessing of peace,
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The beauty of hope,聽
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 The spirit of love,
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 And the comfort of faith聽
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Be your gift this Christmas season.
聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽聽 Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!
