Samuel Rutherford, a Scottish Presbyterian, pastor, theologian and author, and one of the commissioners of the Westminster Assembly, said, “Praise God for the hammer, the file and the furnace. The hammer molds us, the file sharpens us and the fire tempers us.”

We live in a tumultuous world, filled with dark and difficult challenges. Hard, painful and tear-filled circumstances are taught in the classroom of life. It is those times of struggles and pain that teach us how to live. Our wish in this explosive atmosphere is to conquer the tough issues of life. The deepest lessons are love, giving, sacrifice and family’s place of warmth, acceptance and security.

Imagine a downtown community where members all work toward the common good. We have a community that is conquering challenges. It has been said that life has to be lived in a forward motion, but can be understood only by looking back.

A quick backward look at Biddeford on a Friday night in December of 1949 would include bustling streets, full of people doing their shopping. You could barely find room to walk. In the diversity of stores, you could find anything you needed. All of the businesses were decorated. Modern Butlers was a family store ”“ it was a treat to go to Polakwich and find beautiful dresses. There was Pennys, Sears, the Puritan and many more outstanding places to shop and eat. Biddeford was a thriving, modern city. A fun place for children on the way to a Saturday matinee was the Five and Dime store, with counters full of loose candies. For a nickel, you could buy a bag of your favorite candy.

Fast-forward to today, and the city has taken a huge step forward by removing the trash incinerator, which has made way for even more downtown redevelopment. The proposed Lincoln Hotel and Loft project will transform the Biddeford mill building into an apartment and hotel complex.

Delilah Poupore, executive director of the Heart of Biddeford, said that the redevelopment plan is “huge news” for the city, because it would create new jobs and is a sign that developers see the potential in Biddeford.

“It is a major sign that the revitalization people have been working on for years is finally coming together,” she said.

In this season for giving, Leo Menard, coordinator of Tots for Toys, says help is needed to provide a brighter Christmas for children in need. Toys for Tots is a wonderful and memorable way to experience giving by changing the lives of many children. It started in 1947 with the U.S. Marine Corps, and remains strong today thanks to supporters here in York County and throughout the entire country.

For more information and to help out, contact Leo Menard at 229-7525 or [email protected]. If you know a family in need, go to www.saco-me.toysfortots.org to see how to sign up.

— Zaffie Hadiaris of Saco is the host of “Zaffie,” a weekly television talk show on Channel 3 Biddeford public access. It can also be seen at biddefordmaine.org. Contact Hadiaris at [email protected].