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From Reverend Sharon Grenham-Toze, Anglican Priest and Prison Chaplain:

I had a seriously ‘bah humbug’ moment over the weekend. Every cupboard is crammed with cardboard boxes, bags and stuff I’m supposed to be hiding. Each time the delivery guy comes to my door I’m out at work, so I have to make yet another journey to the sorting office and stand in a mile long queue. The bank account’s so empty it’s practically inside out, and my house move’s been delayed because everyone’s closing down for the next 2 weeks. Christmas!

But then I heard a lovely true story - of a man with a warm heart and a loving soul. Every year he’d ask his wife not to give him presents, but instead to give something to someone in real need, then write down what she’d given, seal it in an envelope, and place the envelope in the branches of the Christmas tree for him to open on Christmas morning. The wife did this every year for a long time, as their family grew up, until sadly, the dad died just before Christmas one year. On Christmas morning the wife, still grieving, went downstairs and found three envelopes in the tree – each of their children had given a gift to someone in need in memory of their dad, without telling each other or their mum – and those envelopes were their presents to their dad, whose generosity and kindness lived on.

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That really inspired me, and put my yuletide hassles and grumpiness into perspective. We have so much to be grateful for, it’s a pity to let the pressure get to us. True joy is found in our spirit, not our Christmas stockings.

Not I always like to be inclusive, so…â¶Ä¦. as the festivities approach, all over the country, in the glorious North and the ‘Beautiful South’, let’s check ‘What We Have Become’ – no need to be a ‘Hothead’. ‘The Only Way is…’ to get ‘Strictly’ ‘Downton’ business, and remember what’s at the heart of Christmas – giving ‘real hope to real people.’