Thus, May We Keep Christmas – Christmas Devotional – Sunday, December 25, 1959
From Charles Dickens we recall these warm and wonderful words- “I have always thought of Christmas time as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable, pleasant time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely.”
It is a good time, with friends and family, and gifts and the goodness of giving, and more of mindfulness for loved ones with us, and more of missing loved ones away.
This day is different, and the difference is of Him whose coming it commemorates, even Jesus the Messiah, the Prince of Peace.
And now this Christmas night, when much that was anticipated is over, we know somehow, that we have seen a little of what heaven could be like if men were as kind, always, —as kind as if it were Christmas.
Tomorrow, next week, the routine things begin again— perhaps with problems, per chance some sorrows, always with some uncertainties, unanswered question, some days of discouragement. But still, it is a good life, and still, it is a good world.
The Lord God Himself looked out upon it and saw and said that it was so. And may there linger from this day a new appraisal of the love of loved ones, and of the things that matter most, with more of kindliness and courage, more of patience, more of forgiving, more of understanding, more of service, more of willingness to work, more of faith — faith in a loving Father whose purpose is that we might have joy, and life and loved ones everlastingly.
May the peace men so much seek, be in your hearts and in your homes, and happiness in the year ahead. Thus, may we keep Christmas.
December 25, 1959
Broadcast Number 1,5843