Too often the world news is both heartbreaking and discouraging. Yet the holiday season inspires me with good news stories: communities coming together to prepare Christmas meals for the homeless, school children making and delivering Christmas cards to seniors, the restaurant in Montreal with a sign indicating that even if you cannot pay, you can still eat.

I believe that all people deserve dignity and respect despite their circumstance. I believe in the goodness of humanity. Most importantly, I believe that each of us can make a difference.

In the words of Pope Francis: “To change the world we must be good to those who cannot repay us.”