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Merry Christmas, my dear friends!

This cheery train, on which we share so much, rolls on through another Christmas.

You are all so wonderful, and I am thankful to “know” you all.

Things seem dark right now—there have been so many disappointments of late.

We fear for our country and for our families.

We must not forget that God wins-—check the back of the Book.

In fact, with the provision of a Savior, God has already won.

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote this poem on Christmas Day, 1863, during the Civil War. Brother fighting brother, men dying every day, families being destroyed. It is called “Christmas Bells”. It captures the need to have faith in adversity, knowing Who holds the outcome of all things:
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Christmas Bells

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!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till 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!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed 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.”
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My friends, may you all the very merriest of Christmases, and may God bless us, our loved ones and our nation as we approach the new year.