A Holiday Season Note from NAL publisher Doug Draper
“It’s coming on Christmas, They’re cutting down trees. They’re putting up reindeer, And singing songs of joy and peace. Oh, I wish I had a river I could skate away on.”![river01[1]](https://niagaraatlarge.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/12/river011.jpg?w=300&h=226)
There are all those upbeat Christmas carols like ‘Jingle Bells’ and ‘Santa Claus Is Coming To Town’. Then there are the opening lines above from this 1970s Joni Mitchell song called ‘The River’.
‘The River’ speaks to a Christmas season that may not be as happy or joyous as all of the hype would have us believe it should or even must be for all of us.
The truth is that Christmas – a time of the when there is so much pressure on us to be happy – can be an even harder time for people who may be facing serious difficulties or losses in their lives or in the lives of their friends and loved ones.
Perhaps one of the greatest gifts we can give during this time of gift shopping and giving, is to reach out to those who may wish they had a river to skate away on, and let them know that they do not have to skate alone.
(NAL invites our readers to share their thoughts on this post.)
Niagara At Large 
A beautiful thought, Doug — thanks. Hope to be doing exactly as you suggest…
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A very inspiring message. Thank you for reminding us that there are gifts that money can’t buy. Thoughtfulness,caring and sharing are things anyone can afford. We need to practice this “kind” of gift giving 365 days a year. Remember that you can even afford to give more than one per day!
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