"I know I shall not pass this way again."

Perfect holiday. Peaceful. Filled with love. Contentment abounding.

I looked around this afternoon and thought about all the blessings we have. I think when times are tough people tend to do one of two things. They focus on what is going wrong, or they enjoy what they have. In today's world it is so easy for children, and sometimes adults too, to think that happiness comes from getting, or having the right things. I'll admit, when the house is condemned, or the car about to be repossessed, it is hard to be content, but it is possible.

All the cars and all the toys and all the houses in the world cannot replace one face at Christmas. As long as loved ones are near us we are blessed. Christmas is a good time to look around and remember this.

And for those who are missing a loved one this Christmas, there are still a lot of other faces around to be grateful for. Time is a river that moves inexorably forward and the words, "I know I shall not pass this way again" are as true today as the first time I heard them in a piano piece I was learning as a child.

Absolutely nothing is more of a blessing than the people in our lives.