'Tis a Gift...

And so the Shortest Day came and the year died

And everywhere down the centuries of the snow-white world

Came people singing, dancing,

To drive the dark away.

-Susan Cooper

Hello Friends-

Next Friday, we plan to gather as a community in Bowdoin Park and celebrate. While the passing of the shortest day (December 21st this year) is certainly good reason to rejoice, it is not the only thing worth feeling good about this year. At Randolph, we have gone through our own season of change, and I think we have responded wonderfully to all of the challenges and opportunities we have been presented over the course of the school year. In the last few weeks alone, we have seen our community come together and organize a wildly successful Craft Fair, and pull off a stunning fundraising campaign for the porch.

Whether you are able to join us next Friday or not, you might want to take a moment in the early afternoon to pause and think of what you have to celebrate this midwinter. Know that during that time, your Randolph friends will be gathered together in celebration and gratitude for the community we belong to. In the gift-giving tradition of this time of year, we will sing songs for and with each other, and we will extend that gift of song out to you, our friends. I think that composer Joseph Brackett had this concept in mind in 1848 when he wrote:

'Tis the gift to be loved and that love to return,

'Tis the gift to be taught and a richer gift to learn...

'Tis the gift to have friends and a true friend to be,

'Tis the gift to think of others not to only think of "me"

I hope your winter is going well, that you are finding those things in your life worth celebrating, and that you are giving and receiving the abundant gifts of life with an open heart.

Be well,

Ben

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