Christmas is a very special time not just for Christians but for people of all faiths and of none.
For most of us, it’s a time of merriment and celebration, a time to relax and escape the pressures of the modern world. I’m looking forward to spending a few days off after a particularly full-on period of grappling with the council’s many challenges.
Reflecting on the prospect of time to rest and relax makes me acutely aware of how lucky I am. I have a warm and welcoming home to envelope me; I have a loving family and good friends to spend time with over Christmas.
Not everyone is so fortunate. For a significant number of people, the reality of Christmas will be very different.
If Christmas is a time for family and friends, it’s also a time to remember the message of Christianity – and of all religions – that we should care about those that we don’t know as well as those that are close to us.
Every year, for people on their own, Christmas is an occasion to be endured rather than enjoyed. There is no more painful reminder that you’re alone than everyone else seeming to have family and friends with whom they can share the festive season. For those who have recently lost a loved one, or a dear friend, Christmas is a time of grieving rather than celebration.
For others, Christmas will be hard to celebrate because their financial circumstances are desperate. Homelessness is a growing problem, much of it associated with private landlord no-fault evictions, but also family breakdowns, all too often involving violence and abuse. Behind the impersonal statistics of homelessness lie individual and family tragedies.
Shortage of money is also affecting many families and individuals who still have a roof over their heads. The number of people in our borough forced to use foodbanks is a sign of the seriousness of the situation. Imagine yourself in the position of parents struggling to buy their children the Christmas presents that others take for granted.
Wokingham Borough Council is working with its voluntary and charitable sector partners in the Hardship Alliance to do what it can to help, and I know there are a lot of local initiatives, often the work of parish and town councils, which are making life more bearable for many in need and for those who are experiencing loneliness.
We can all do our bit – by giving money or goods to the charities that work so hard to help those who struggling, by giving some time to help these organizations in the invaluable work they do, or by looking out for a neighbour who we know to be on their own.
So, while I hope we will all find time to recharge our own batteries and rest and relax over Christmas, I hope also that we will all be able to do something positive to help those who are less fortunate than ourselves.
Have a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
