The Christmas truce was a series of widespread, unofficial ceasefires that took place along the Western Front around Christmas 1914, during World War I. Through the week leading up to Christmas, parties of German and British soldiers began to exchange seasonal greetings and songs between their trenches; on occasion, the tension was reduced to the point that individuals would walk across to talk to their opposite numbers bearing gifts. On Christmas Eve and Christmas Day, many soldiers from both sides—as well as, to a lesser degree, from French units—independently ventured into no mans land, where they mingled, exchanging food and souvenirs. As well as joint burial ceremonies, several meetings ended in carol-singing. Troops from both sides were also friendly enough to play games of football with one another, in one of the truces most enduring images...... Many of you know that the time between Thanksgiving and New Years is my favorite time of year. Every year I hope that Ill have the Norman Rockwell kind of Thanksgiving and Christmas. It never happens, Thanksgiving always seems the closest. We go to my brothers and spend the day with family and friends. My sister-in-law Joyce, is a great cook and the table always looks kind of like the Rockwell Thanksgiving. For four years we have spent the day without a central figure that was like the glue that held us all together, our Dad, Grandfather, Great Grandfather and friend. Especially and most important husband to our mother. We just celebrated Veterans Day, and my Dad was a veteran of the Korean War. More than that though he was a Deacon in his church, which brought him what I would say was his greatest pleasure and reward. I was in the Army, but served during peacetime, at least thats what they call it , even though men died in Panama during the time I was in. I dont know what it was like to be at war, like my Dad and the men in the video below. I like to think that if my Dad would have had the chance to do something like those men did, he would have been one of the first to do it. No matter where you go in the world, you find everyday people, who love their families. People that want nothing more than to live a good life and see their children do better than they have done. They dont want to die or see their children die, anymore than you or I. This coming Thursday I will once again travel to my brothers and spend the day with my family, and Im looking forward to it. Out there somewhere around the world there are young men and women spending the day in harms way. These souls will be missing what we take for granted. There will be those standing on both sides of the line who just wish they could go home to their wives, their families and their moms and dads. We need to pause and remember them all and their loved ones, be be thankful that it is not us standing in harms way on this day. I have seen, as Im sure you have seen all the talk about Christmas wars. That we should be upset because some people are required to or choose to say Happy Holidays instead of Merry Christmas. I find myself thinking what would Jesus say about the issue. I dont think he would be that concerned actually, because as far as I can see by what Ive read, he wouldnt want a lot of fuss over his birthday anyhow. I think that he would be more concerned about those least of his brethren, that were hungry, or cold, or both. I think he would be more concerned with Christmas commercials starting in August and the commercialization of Christmas. Im not a saint by any means as some of you know, but I sure wish this holiday season, that we could start thinking about that loving others as I have loved you, that Jesus talked about. That maybe we could make a little extra effort to what the man whose birthday we celebrate would really want us to do. Peace On Earth, Goodwill To All Mankind....... (...now pass that green bean casserole)
Posted on: Thu, 20 Nov 2014 09:30:52 +0000
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