22 December 2001
Subject: Happy Holidays
Dear Ones,
It's the Saturday before Christmas
in the year of our Lord two thousand and one.... and it's time to take another
marble out of the jar. It's also time to wish you and yours the merriest of
Christmas times and the happiest of New Years.
Today, my thoughts turn to family
and to "my three sons". The first son is the Son of God, Jesus
Christ, whose birth we celebrate each Christmas. He came down to earth in the
form of man to suffer, bleed and die on the cross for our sins and He arose on
the third day so that we, who believe, may be saved unto everlasting life.
Thank you, Lord for sending your Son and giving us "a reason for the
season".
The second son is my biological son
who is driving home today to spend a couple of days with us. When he arrives
home, we will hug and kiss him.... and thank the Lord for bringing him safely
home for the holidays. While he is here, we will talk....we will laugh.... we
will eat too much.... and then, before you know it, he will depart. Again, I
will say, "Thank you, Lord".... this time for allowing me to spend
some time with my son, especially at this time of the year.
Then, it's just natural that the
thoughts of this old veteran turn to America's "sons"..... those
young men and women who are, at this time, deployed around the word in defense
of freedom-loving peoples everywhere. This year they will be spending their
"holidays" away from home and loved ones, but we all know where
their thoughts... and our prayers are. I pray for their safety and their
return home as quickly as possible.... and I ask God's blessings on their
families who await their safe return.
Not a day passes that I don't think
of these young men and women who are serving their country... who are putting
themselves in harm's way to protect and defend us. They are America's finest and
we can sleep better at night knowing they are prepared to pay the supreme
price to protect us and our way of life.
George Orwell said it
best, "We all sleep safe in our beds because there are rough men who
stand ready in the night to visit violence on those who would do us
harm," And, we can rest assured, that we are served by America's
best and bravest.
During
this holiday season as we gather together with family to celebrate the birth
of God's Son, let us all remember those other sons-- our servicemen and
women-- America's sons and daughters... and pray that in the year ahead there
will be Peace
on Earth for all mankind.
Happy Holidays and may God bless you!!
Don
