MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

I thought I would depart, for a moment, from the discussion of choices and make a Christmas message for the few readers I have.  In these times,when people seem to be afraid of saying Merry Christmas, for fear of offending millions of Non-Christians, I am reminded of one of my favorite Christmas songs.  The words were written by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, during the American Civil War,  But the message is pertinent today.  I found two stanzas that are left out of the song we sing today because they referenced the war,  so there was actually more despair in the original version.  I actually like the modern version better because it ends in a tone of hope for humanity.  Here it is:

I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet the words repeat,
Of peace on earth, good will to men. 

I thought how as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had roll'd along th' unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men. 

And in despair I bow'd my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men." 

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

'Til ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men! 

As we celebrate this Holiday Season, let us all remember the reason we are celebrating.  It is a remembrance of the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ.  What message did He have for the world?  I refer to the passage in Mark where a scribe asked what was the greatest commandment. His answer is in Mark 12:30-31, "And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all they heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment."

"And the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbor as thyself.  There is none other commandment greater than these."

What a wonderful world it would be if we truly loved each other as He loves us.

And I for one will greet all my friends with love and boldness!

Merry Christmas!  And Love to all!!