Dear Editor,
Once upon a time in a province named Alberta, there was a town coined Barrhead. About 4,200 people lived, played and worked in the town of Barrhead in the year of 2016. Included with Barrhead would be the surrounding areas of Dunstable, Neerlandia and Fort Assiniboine.
Barrhead was like many other communities of its size except for one thing - the residents of the Barrhead area possessed hearts 9/10 larger than than the residents of other towns.
How did this happen? Well. You may not notice this if you were visiting the Barrhead area during the year - but - if you happened to be in the Barrhead area during the festive Christmas season, you would spot a remarkable trend. Businesses, churches, agencies, schools, families and individuals would be contacting Barrhead FCSS to say, “Christmas is fast approaching. We know that there are children in our area who will not get presents, and individuals who will not have food with which to celebrate. What can we do to help so that everyone in the Barrhead area gets to celebrate?”
Barrhead FCSS would be replying. “We have Christmas programs - Santa’s Toy Box and Christmas Hamper. Please provide us with toys and food. We will get your donations to those in need.”
And so it came to pass that individuals from businesses, churches, agencies, and families buzzed around shopping for children they did not have, buying groceries for people they did not house and some even volunteered to take on the task of providing Christmas meals and presents for a whole family.
As the donations rolled into FCSS, the hearts of the FCSS staff and volunteers swelled with such pride for the people in the Barrhead area that their hearts grew. Astonishingly, the hearts of the donors grew even bigger.
And that is how Barrhead area residents grew their oversize hearts.
Please, Barrhead area residents, you do not need to be afraid - It is not unhealthy to grow a big heart. Your heart can never grow too big no matter how kind, generous or forgiving you are.
In fact large hearts from giving are healthy hearts.
Thank you for what you did to help provide Christmas for those less fortunate. Let’s make it our challenge to grow our hearts even bigger.
Barrhead area residents are truly blessed to live here.
Merry Christmas,
Barrhead area.
From Barrhead FCSS staff and volunteers
