Several city departments responded last week when we encountered a minor gas leak at our house. With the holidays approaching, it came to me that lots of folks are not always home with their families on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. In fact, utilities crews – gas, water and electric –  are always on call, 24 hours a day, seven days each week. Regardless of the holiday, most of us want our heat, lights and water to be flowing.

Police, fire and ambulance personnel are still expected to be on call along with patrolling the streets, manning the fire station and having the ambulances ready to roll at a moment’s notice. Hopefully most of us will not require their services but I am thankful they are on duty if and when they are needed.

Remembering back to my on own younger days, when my mother worked at Hartselle Medical Center, we had to have Christmas at a different time if she had to work on that particular holiday. Moving forward to the present, my own family is celebrating our Christmas this Wednesday, since my oldest is working as a pharmacist at a medical center in Shreveport.

Jordan will be working Christmas Eve and Christmas Day since the patients in the hospital will still need their medications managed.

The medical field is another one of those professions that require 24-hour availability. Jordan has not really complained about working on those days, but he will be missed since this will be the first Christmas in 25 years that he will not be with us.

Another young lady – a family friend – is working as a nurse. She actually had Christmas Eve off but switched with a mother of young children so she could have Santa time with her family. I admire the offer and hopefully when the tables might be turned in the future, someone will pay back her favor. After all, showing love to one another helps us to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Also, we cannot forget those who are serving in the armed forces in different places around the world. They are missing Christmas with their families as well. While those who are working will still be able to find some time to celebrate the holiday, those many miles from home will be only able to share by a phone call, text or maybe with FaceTime or Skype.

To all of you who will be working and/or serving in the military, thank you for your sacrifice to all of us, and for keeping us safe and protected on Christmas. May God bless and keep you safe, as we celebrate the birth of His Son.

Randy Garrison is the president and publisher of the Hartselle Enquirer.