The gift of time is the most meaningful present we can offer this season. As Christmas week approaches, I find myself thinking less about lists and more about people. Family. Friends. Neighbours. Communities that hold us up when life gets loud. This season slows us just enough to see what matters.
For me, that theme is connection. Not the highlight reel. Real connection. It forms in kitchens, at hockey rinks, in church basements, on shop floors, and across farmyards. It shows up when someone needs a hand, a meal, or simply a place to be understood.
A first Christmas, a fresh reminder
This year that reflection feels personal, because it is my granddaughter’s first Christmas. Watching her be passed from arm to arm has brought unexpected joy. She will not remember the wrapping or the decorations. She will not care what a gift cost. She will absorb the feeling of being surrounded by love.
As my adult child steps into parenthood and our family gathers, something settles in my chest. This is what Christmas is meant to be. Presence. Warmth. Belonging. The quiet miracle of being together. And it reminds me again that the best gift is our time.
In a world that asks for more speed and output, time feels scarce. It is also the one thing we cannot replace. Therefore, it matters.
Time looks like showing up for Sunday dinner when you are tired. It looks like checking in on a friend who has gone quiet. It looks like letting kids help bake even if it gets messy. It looks like sitting with your parents and hearing the same stories again. One day you will wish you could.
Farming shows us the gift of time
Farming communities understand this deeply. Harvest does not happen without neighbours helping neighbours. Storms do not pass without someone checking the yard next door. Good years feel complete only when shared with those who walked beside you through the hard ones.
That spirit is why I respect farmers. The work is demanding, the seasons are unpredictable, and the stakes are real. Yet the values hold steady. Family first. Community always. Gratitude for what the land and the year provide. You can plan and work hard, but larger forces still shape the outcome. Therefore, you cherish people and savour the good days.
Bringing the gift of time to work
In business and leadership, we often measure success by outputs. Revenue. Efficiency. Growth. Milestones. These matter. They keep companies alive and fund the future. But they are not the whole story. The real strength of a business is its people and the relationships between them.
Culture is not a slogan. It is how we treat each other when it gets busy. It is how we handle pressure. It is how we celebrate wins and show up in losses. Most of all, it is how we invest in one another as humans, not just as roles. When we lead with connection, gratitude, and generosity, the numbers benefit. More importantly, the people do.
As Christmas approaches, I offer a simple challenge to myself and to anyone reading. Give your time freely. Not because it is the calendar week. Not because it sounds inspiring. Do it because people you love are where your time belongs.
Call the person you have been meaning to call. Put your phone in another room while the kids play. Walk over to the neighbour’s place for a quick visit. Sit at the table a little longer. Ask better questions. Listen more slowly. We do not need more stuff. We need more presence. In other words, we need the gift of time.
Today I am grateful for my family, for the communities we share, and for the work that ties us together, whether on a farm, in a shop, or in an office. I am especially grateful for a little girl in her first Christmas, reminding all of us what this season is really about. From my family to yours, may your Christmas be full of warmth, connection, and the gift of time.
