I want to talk about Christmas lists and how they sure change as you get older. Your priorities change so of course your gift lists change.

When you get older you start to be (I hope) less ego-centric and more giving of others. You may have gotten married and your hopes and thoughts revolve just around your significant other or you may have become a parent and started a family and want only what is best for your children.

My point is that your lists take a significant change each year that you spend on this planet. My Christmas list this year includes thoughts and prayers for the significant amount of troops fighting each day for our freedom. We have just increased troop levels in Afghanistan by more than 30,000.

My prayers also go out to the families of all the military members as they are fighting a war back at home about which many of us forget. These families are a life line for all of our troops both home and abroad.

Cancer is also prominent on my list as I sure hope we find a cure to this nasty disease soon. It takes many good people away too soon and causes heartache that can never ever be healed.

Next on this list is for us to take care of each other. Every day we are faced with hunger, homelessness, and strife right in our own backyards. Please open your eyes and help anyway that you can.

As I started to pen this column, a song that I love at Christmas time popped into my head, and you know how I love to share cool poems, letters or songs with you as I am a strong believer in the power of words. Here is a great tune.

“Grown up Christmas List”

By: Amy Grant

Do you remember me?

I sat upon your knee;

I wrote to you

With childhood fantasies.

Well, I’m all grown-up now,

And still need help somehow.

I’m not a child,

But my heart still can dream.

So here’s my lifelong wish,

My grown-up Christmas list.

Not for myself,

But for a world in need.

No more lives torn apart,

That wars would never start,(and wars would never start)

And time would heal all hearts.

And everyone would have a friend,

And right would always win,

And love would never end.

This is my grown-up Christmas list.

As children we believed

The grandest sight to see

Was something lovely

Wrapped beneath our tree.

Well heaven surely knows

That packages and bows

Can never heal

A hurting human soul.

No more lives torn apart,

That wars would never start,

And time would heal all hearts.

And everyone would have a friend,

And right would always win,

And love would never end.

This is my grown-up Christmas list.

What is this illusion called the innocence of youth?

Maybe only in our blind belief can we ever find the truth.

No more lives torn apart,

That wars would never start,

And time would heal all hearts.

And everyone would have a friend,

And right would always win,

And love would never end, oh.

This is my grown-up Christmas list.

This is my only lifelong wish.

This is my grown-up Christmas list.

Please include a few new things on your Christmas list this year.

Albert Lea Tribune Publisher Scott Schmeltzer’s column appears every Thursday.