Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men

One of my favorite Christmas Hymns is "I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day" During the Vietnam War in the Mid '60's, the words "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men" seemed hollow to me because there wasn't peace on earth and I often wondered, if in my life time, I would ever experience that wonderful sense of having peace. Over the years, I have learned that peace on earth begins in the home.

There is a song that begins, "A house becomes a home when there's love inside". This is true. A home is the harbinger of goodness, of learning and teaching respect towards each other by being good examples. Each of our homes is not perfect, but when we are willing to work with one another, communicate our thoughts and feelings toward one another, and seek out the best in one another, our houses truly become of home where love abounds.

As Christmas fills our hearts with love for our spouses, our children and grandchildren, we desire look for the goodness, the character of who we are, the sweetness in all of our interactions. The world is full of crassness, criticism, manipulation, hate, envy and simple selfishness. I appreciate that we have children who are willing to share with one another and to help one another as circumstances allow.

Mom and I are in Elko Nev where we spent the night and we will be traveling to Trevors' today to spend the Christmas holiday with his family. We are grateful beyond words to have had the opportunity to share our lives with so many of our family members this past year. We have grown closer to our grandchildren, our children, their spouses and our own siblings. I hope everyone understands that mom and I delight in being around members of our family.

Things happen in this life where we have little choice over the matter. And sometimes we make choices with good intentions but the consequences are not what we expected. We all fall into this situation, and it really becomes our choice on how we respond to these situations. We can offer words of criticism, spread gossip and purposefully hurt the other person....or we can be understanding, listen to understand and subject the natural man to the higher law of Christ like love.

Yesterday in a Walmart, I was in a line at the self checkout stand when this man in front of me who was waiting with several people in front of him. He suddenly slammed things from his hand into his cart, then walked in front of two people who were also waiting, grabbed their cart and pushed it to the next open kiosk. He loudly said they should move forward instead of waiting and waiting. I thought it was neat that he was helping a family. Then he came back to his cart and in a loud voice exclaimed, "How can people be so stupid. I can't believe stupid people don't look ahead." When he said this, another man in front of him, looked around and said, "Hey, this is Christmas season, we don't need that".
I observed this and thought it was interesting that in helping the other people he did good, but in opening his mouth and making critical remarks he revealed who he really was.

I know that I have made disparaging remarks in my lifetime and I am not perfect in being helpful. It is a challenge for me to be aware of what I am saying and to recognize where I could be more helpful.I really try not to say things that will be hurtful. If I can do better at this, and be more cognizant of where I can be most help, then maybe our home can be a better source of "Peace on Earth, Good Will Toward Men."

I wish all who read this a very Merry Christmas and hope that 2010 will be a wonderful New Year for all of us.