“Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus. He exists as certainly as love and generosity and devotion exist, and you know that they abound and give to your life its highest beauty and joy,” so wrote Francis Pharcellus Church of the New York Sun in 1897. And, though the world might be full of sadness and war and pain throughout the year, this is the one time when a gleam of light can shine forth and we can be reminded that there are moments of beauty and things to be grateful for – we can be part of it.

And today, Pathways was the recipient of such a moment – the generosity of a local establishment surprised and put a smile on the faces of people here at Pathways.

We send out a huge thank you to Leopold’s Tavern in Bowness for the wonderful gift! Today, you were our ‘Santa Claus’!

If I may, this gives a glimpse into what the world might be like, if we saw ourselves as part of a community. Life isn’t about how much you can accumulate; there are no winners when you reach the end. But what you can leave behind is a legacy. How many lives have you touched, how many people are better because you were here. Pathways does its best to pass that on, and today we were the receiver of another organization who passed it on to us. Pay It Forward has been a part of our world for a long time; it blesses the giver as well as the receiver.

Thank you, Leopold’s Tavern. You made our day!