There was a beautiful moment in the beginning when three wise men — three kings of the Orient — presented the newborn Jesus with gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh.The gifts symbolised their devotion to the Son of God.Gift giving became one of the ways we celebrate Christmas, and it is a good thing.

St. Paul said giving helps us excel and proves our love is real.

Through giving, we remember the wonderful gift of salvation the Lord gave us. Through giving, we reflect some of the glory of His Son, who helps us to live a better life.

Through giving we Through giving we help our fellow man.

Bermuda has always been a giving society.

All around us, each and every day, we can see people helping others.

We can see it at Agape House where people care for the terminally ill, and at the Patience Assistance League where volunteers help cancer patients and their families.

We can see it at the Hospital where Pink Ladies make things run smoothly for patients and staff.

We can see it at Harbourlite, where free meals are given to the hard-pressed.

We can see it in the work of people who help those struggling with addiction and those trying to turn their lives away from crime.

We see it among people who have chosen to devote themselves to the welfare of others rather than pursuing the almighty dollar.

We can see it among the volunteers who help ease the daily challenges of our beloved seniors.

Giving is there among the helpers at the Women’s Resource Centre and the Lady Cubitt Compassionate Association, the Society for the Blind and the Alzheimer’s Support Group.

The spirit of giving is also with people too busy to give their time but who through the grace of their generosity help Bermuda’s many charities continue their work.

All of those who give make our island home a better place

Christmas is an opportunity for all of us to extend that spirit of giving.

It reminds us of the power of love and devotion that the act of giving holds.

And so my wish for all Bermudians this Christmas is that we reach out to someone beyond our immediate circle of family and friends.

Pick someone you think may be lonely, or someone you know may be struggling, or even someone you don’t like and give them something.

It could be a token of friendship, or an invitation to dinner or a helping hand.

Let’s do what we can to extend the love that is there among us but not expressed.

It could make our Island glow a little brighter with the true spirit of Christmas, just as that star did above Bethlehem more than 2000 years ago.

Thank you and Merry Christmas.

Extend the spirit of giving