Her spouse died last Christmas.

Miss Edna sat on a bench on the verandah of her dilapidated shack. She was humming the words of the hymn Pass me not o' gentle Saviour, hear my humble cry.

A stranger walked up the narrow walkway leading to the shack. Miss Edna used her hand to protect her eyes from the rising sun as she greeted the stranger. It was a short, slim lady. "Good morning, and who are you?" enquired Miss Edna.

"I have brought this food package for you."

Tears rolled down Miss Edna's face.

"Today is Christmas, I have been so hungry. Thanks," she said.

Let us love, give and share.

We are two days to Christmas. As we go about our busy schedule, shopping and exchanging gifts, let us remember that there are many people in our world who may not have a meal on Christmas Day. Let us pause to remember these people - the sick, the elderly, persons living alone, persons who are unemployed, and persons who may be in distress. Let us all remember to love, give and care.

Happy Christmas to you all!

May these words guide us this Christmas:

"Lord, make me an instrument of thy peace.

Where there is hatred, let me sow love;

Where there is injury, pardon;

Where there is doubt, faith;

Where there is despair, hope;

Where there is darkness, light;

Where there is sadness, joy.

O divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek

To be consoled as to console,

To be understood as to understand,

To be loved as to love;

For it is in giving that we receive;

It is in pardoning that we are pardoned;

It is in dying that we are born to eternal life."

(Prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi)

Dr Wendel Abel is a consultant psychiatrist and head, Section of Psychiatry, Dept of Community Health and Psychiatry, University of the West Indies, 977-1108; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.