What do you want for Christmas?
Time with my family members is at the top of my Christmas list this year. I love having my sons, daughters-in-law and grandchildren together. Time with our extended family and others we love but don’t see often enough is good for the soul.
As a child, I couldn’t wait to find what was under the tree on Christmas morning. As a young adult, I enjoyed staying up late to stuff stockings and lay out gifts for my sons. Nowadays, my mantel is barren, but my sons have children of their own hanging stockings. It’s a joy to watch our children start their own traditions, but such memories of past Christmases make me feel warm all over.
But what I REALLY want for Christmas this year can’t go in a stocking. I have a big order, Santa. It sounds cliche, but I want Peace on Earth. Have you ever stopped to really think about what that means?
Peace starts in the home by working to have a good marriage and speaking to your spouse with love and respect. It comes by training children to be civil while standing for the truth, while also training them to navigate the valleys and hills we all will face.
There was a time when mornings were hectic at my house as my husband and I hurried to get ready for work and get three kids off to school. One day we decided that our home was our safest place, and that we needed to make sure our children left it each morning with the peace of knowing they were loved. There would be no yelling, no rushing, no one leaving in tears. We couldn’t control most of what happened to them during the day, but we wanted them to have the best start possible to their day. Calmness was welcomed by all of us, and mornings were so much better when we slowed down, prayed with them, and sent them off with a peaceful start.
One of the best ways to have peace is to pray without ceasing. It took me years to figure out what that meant. I didn’t need sackcloth on my head or to be on my knees in the closet. I still struggle to make it a habit, but being in a prayerful state of mind all the time works wonders. Something good happens? Thank God on the spot, even if it’s only in your head. A challenge comes along? Whisper a prayer. Someone asks you a complicated question? God hears your quick prayer to put the right words in your mouth before you answer. Someone cuts you off in traffic? Pray for them (and for yourself if you’re tempted to retaliate).
Pray when you’re grateful (and always be grateful). Pray for your needs (and there will always be needs). Pray for our leaders – the local ones, the state-level leaders, and our national leaders. Pray that we all make good choices, and that we will be lights in the world. Pray before you act. Pray that God’s will be done. I promise life will be more peaceful when we pray. And there is so much to pray for.
If Peace on Earth could be put in a gift basket, here’s what would be in mine:
Grandchildren whose parents take them to church and demonstrate a godly life by example.
Libraries where children won’t find books about things they don’t need to know about. Instead, let them find books and toys that spark their imagination and help them dream. Children need a positive environment, a culture with Christian values to grow into adults who will give hope to our world just by being good people.
A community where perverts know they are not welcome. This means that people who molest and abuse children are so afraid to act on those urges that they repent and turn to God.
Wholesome entertainment for children. This includes TV programming that doesn’t openly promote homosexuality, promiscuity, drugs or alcohol. Our children need to learn how to draw a hopscotch game in the dirt and use a jump rope for fun exercise.
Civil conversations around the dinner table with family and friends - these conversations won’t have us hiding our candles. We will discuss issues to understand people who think differently and spark new ways of thinking for those who have gotten so far off track. And if it’s not too much to ask, can we do it without grandma regretting hosting us all for dinner?
Hope. This is a big one and made up of so many things:
Continued ability to worship without interference. We should never take this for granted.
People returning to church. We lost so many during Covid who just stopped coming.
Speaking of Covid - can I ask for more medical professionals like “Concerned Doctors” who will stand up for what’s best for people even at the risk of losing their livelihood?
Schools that do not succumb to the pressures of those who wish to groom children for alternative lifestyles. Let kids be kids! They grow up too fast anyway.
An attorney general who continues to stand against allowing children to be medically transitioned to the opposite sex.
Truth - In John 8:32, Jesus told a group of Jews that when we know the truth, it will set us free. He is talking about following Him and being free from sin. The truth is hard to find these days, especially on political issues. Please, Santa, help 1819 News continue exposing the truth through honest journalism, and please grow the readership list. When those who are abusing power are exposed for wrong, things are often made right. When our citizens know the truth, they will bring about positive change.
Love – 1 Corinthians 13:13 is often quoted: “So now faith, hope and love abide, these three; but the greatest of these is love.” Peace cannot exist without love. But love and peace do not mean ignoring what is wrong. If we love our children, we train them. If we love our neighbors, we show them God by acts of kindness. If we love a person who we know or believe to be wrong, we don’t act like the wrong isn’t happening. The greatest love was exhibited when Jesus obeyed His Father by laying down His life for us. For us, Peace on Earth won’t require an act as extreme as that, but there will be valleys and hills. Are we prepared to handle those with love?
Now that I’ve written it down, my list looks like a very tall order. It’s too bad I can’t just order it online! It is truly what I want for Christmas. I pray that we all receive what we want this year, and that we receive it abundantly.
Linda Harbison Baker is Chief Development Officer for 1819 News. She was lifestyle editor of the Daily Mountain Eagle when newspapers were still printed and has raised funds for nonprofit organizations for several years. She has three sons and five grandchildren.
The views and opinions expressed here are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the policy or position of 1819 News. To comment, please send an email with your name and contact information to Commentary@1819News.com.
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