The time of joy
The light shows are prevalent this time of year. As you drive around the neighborhoods of Madera, you will see a variety of displays of color and scenes, both religious and secular. There are Santas, snowmen, stars, reindeer, angels, candy canes, nativity scenes, and more. Sometimes the scenes contain music or other sounds. The displays are both festive and meaningful.
The season is a time of celebration, and the message is one of hope, love, joy, and peace. I hear many people describe the “true meaning of Christmas” as being that of giving, showing love toward each other, helping the poor and homeless, forgiving each other, or just showing kindness.
That is all a part of how we celebrate Christmas, but the true meaning of Christmas is the hope, love, joy, and peace that came to earth in the form of God’s son, Jesus. It is indeed the most wonderful time of the year, when we celebrate the Joy to the World, in the child that was born to be our Savior, the Messiah. It is a blessed time.
Taking Monkey Mart's supermarket from its humble beginnings as a one-stall stand to its current state as a massive retail empire is a very rewarding experience.