Today is Christmas Eve! Today has been the mark of many important and inspirational events throughout history and the subject of many beautiful stories and poems by a wide variety of authors. But at this moment I want to remember the beauty of Peace on Earth and Goodwill toward Men:
Christmas Eve WW1 started out as a dreary and depressing day. Soldiers were away from home stuck in the dangerous and saddening conditions of trench warfare and many families across the world were left without homes and without living family members, victims of one of the most horrific wars in recorded history. Yet in spite of this despair and heartache we find one of the most powerful stories of Peace and Goodwill in modern times. German and Allied soldiers began to sing in their trenches, lift their heads above ground (where they could be shot and killed) and took courage. Soldiers who had been fighting and killing one another for days, weeks, or even months (possibly longer) stepped out of their national pride and demonizing hatred of the enemy for Jesus' sake. Meeting in the clearing between trenches these brave and heroic soldiers exchanged gifts, shook hands, hugged, played soccer (futball) and sang Christmas carols. They forgot that they were enemies for that night and celebrated Peace on Earth and Goodwill toward Men.
Most sad, however, is the fact that shortly thereafter the battle resumed and these soldiers who had so recently been giving gifts and making friends were forced to try hard to kill each other once again. But these heroes are living testaments to the power of the Spirit of Christmas and what is possible if we abandon the wars we fight every day and turn our hearts and minds to Peace on Earth and Goodwill towards our Enemies.
If you love God and Christ, or if you love any other human soul, let us put aside our animosity and our anger and causes for two days and give gifts to each other in loving kindness. Tomorrow we may pick up our causes yet again but today is a day of Peace and Joy.
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