A Message from Mayor Stimpson - December 24
Dec 24th, 2020
Good evening,
It is 5 p.m. on Thursday, December 24, and I am not in my office. In fact, I haven’t been into the office all day because I’ve been enjoying the holidays with my family.
Christmas may look a little different this year, but there are still memories to be made. Tonight is Christmas Eve, and I hope you’re spending time with your loved ones — whoever they are and however they are gathered together.
During the holiday season, it is also important that we remember our neighbors. This will be a difficult time for many in our community. Some families are celebrating Christmas apart. Others are facing their first holiday after losing a loved one. For some, new economic realities have made Christmas lists impossible to fill. Any of these things can make it difficult to feel “Merry & Bright,” even amongst the trappings of the season. As we celebrate, let’s remember those who are suffering and reach out to them.
For many, Christmas is a celebration of love and hope for our world. We have faced a number of challenges as a community over these last 12 months, but we have also seen our community — people of different races, religions, backgrounds and creeds — come together to help one another. This year we learned that through challenges and uncertainty, one thing that is certain is Mobilians will unite.
When we work together, we have hope. Personally, I can tell you that I am filled with hope as we move closer to 2021. My greatest hope is that we will continue working together to become One Mobile.
The concept of One Mobile was always to unite in the effort to become a safer, more business and family friendly city. Unity isn’t some vague, dream-like fantasy where all disagreements disappear and we sing together in harmony.
Unity occurs when people are joined by their passion and action — when their commitment to a shared goal is so strong that it removes hostilities, puts away disagreements and gives those who were previously divided a reason to take their place alongside each other. It occurs when people with different gifts, talents and anointings work together to achieve outcomes we would have otherwise thought impossible.
In a community, others are always counting on our participation. No matter who you are, there is some contribution you are uniquely qualified to make to our City. Over the holidays, I hope you will think and pray about your gifts, talents and resources and how you can use them in our mutual quest to become One Mobile — a safer, more business and family friendly City.
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!