The Last Page of the Year

The Last Page of the Year

By: Lars Olson

From the fictional town of Cedar Valley, where characters from Quiet Echo continue to respond to real-world events.

A homeless mother of four named Janae Neal was standing in a San Diego parking lot when a stranger asked if she’d help him wrap a Christmas gift. She said yes without hesitation. When she finished, he told her the gift was for her—five hundred dollars in cash. She broke down crying. The stranger, a content creator named Jesus Morales, then started a GoFundMe that has now raised nearly three hundred thousand dollars for Janae and her family.

It started with a woman who said yes to a small kindness when she had almost nothing to give.

I’ve been sitting with that story this morning, the last morning of 2025, with a cup of hot cocoa and The Power of Authors. The store doesn’t open for another hour. The sun’s not up yet. And I’ve been thinking about words—not just the ones I speak, but the ones I write.

I don’t consider myself a writer. Never have. I’m a hardware man. I sell nails and lumber and plumbing supplies. But the book stopped me cold when I realized how many words I actually put on paper—or on a screen—every single day.

I write invoices and work orders. I write emails to suppliers and memos to my employees. I write letters to the city council when they’re considering ordinances that affect Main Street businesses. I post on social media—not often, but when something matters. I write thank-you notes to customers who’ve been loyal for decades.

And as bishop, I write even more. Letters of recommendation for missionaries. Notes of encouragement to members who are struggling. Condolence cards to families who’ve lost someone. Talks for Sacrament Meeting. Emails to the stake president. Letters to young men and young women who are preparing for ordinances.

I’ve never counted the words. But sitting here this morning, I realize it must be thousands every week. Tens of thousands every month. And I’ve never once thought of myself as an author.

The book makes the point that every person is an author—not because we all write books, but because we all write stories with our lives, with our choices, with our words. The question isn’t whether we’re writing. The question is what kind of story we’re telling.

That landed hard.

Because I’ve dashed off emails when I was irritated, and the irritation showed. I’ve written memos that were curt when they could have been kind. I’ve posted things on social media that were clever but sharp. I’ve written letters to officials that made my point, but didn’t make a friend.

Every one of those words went somewhere. Every one of them landed on someone. Every one of them wrote something on another person’s day, another person’s heart.

Janae didn’t know she was being filmed. She didn’t know there was money involved. She just saw someone who needed help wrapping a gift, and she helped. That’s the story she was writing—the story of a woman who says yes even when her own circumstances are desperate. And that story unlocked something. Nearly three hundred thousand dollars from strangers who saw a thirty-second video and recognized goodness when they saw it.

I think about the words I’ll write today. The email to a vendor who shorted my order—will it be firm but fair, or will it be harsh? The note to Sister Hendricks, who just lost her husband—will I take the time to say something real, or will I reach for the usual phrases? The social media post about the new year—will it be something worth reading, or just noise?

The Power of Authors reminds us that we don’t need a publisher to make an impact. We don’t need a platform or an audience or a viral moment. We need only to recognize that every word we write is a page in someone else’s story—and in our own.

The Savior was careful with His words. He spoke peace to storms and forgiveness to sinners. He wrote in the sand when the Pharisees wanted condemnation. He said, “Neither do I condemn thee.” Seven words that changed a woman’s life.

I can’t write scripture. But I can write an email that assumes the best instead of the worst. I can write a condolence note that actually names what was good about the person who died. I can write a respectful letter to an official, even when I disagree. I can write a social media post that builds up instead of tearing down.

That’s my resolution for 2026. Not a grand gesture. Not a public declaration. Just a quiet commitment to write better words—kinder words, truer words, words that heal instead of wound.

The year ends tonight. The page turns. And tomorrow morning, I’ll sit down at this counter again, and I’ll open my laptop, and I’ll write something. A work order. An email. A note.

I hope it’s something worth reading. I hope it’s something that blesses whoever receives it.

Because that’s what writers do.

Happy New Year, Cedar Valley.

This editorial is part of the fictional Cedar Valley News series. While the people and town are fictional, the national events they reflect on are real.

Want to know the full story behind Cedar Valley? Teresa, Caleb, Dan, and the community you’ve come to know in these editorials first came together in Quiet Echo: When Loud Voices Divide, Quiet Ones Bring Together. Discover how a small town found its way from fear to fellowship—one quiet act of courage at a time. Available on Amazon: https://bit.ly/3ME4nSs

It’s free, live, and fresh! Quiet Echo—A Cedar Valley News Podcast is live on Apple Podcasts: https://bit.ly/4nV8XsE, Spotify: https://bit.ly/4hdNHfX, YouTube: https://bit.ly/48Zfu1g , and Podcastle: https://bit.ly/4pYRstE. Every day, you can hear Cedar Valley’s editorials read aloud by the voices you’ve come to know—warm, steady, and rooted in the values we share. Step into the rhythm of our town, one short reflection at a time. Wherever you listen, you’ll feel right at home. Presented by the Publication Consultants:  https://publicationconsultants.com/

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