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Ronald Reagan and the True Meaning of
Christmas Part Two of Three By Dave Andrusko My kids are hugely amused that I utilize social media, particularly Facebook, YouTube, and Twitter, a lot. I do partly to keep in touch with friends but increasingly because the people I have "friended" attach links to fabulously interesting material. I'm assuming the video of pro-life President Ronald Reagan's first Christmas message (December 23, 1981) has been around for decades, probably making its way online early in YouTube's existence. But I became aware of it only today (see http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UU0tuah-x7M), 29 years later. The President's words are so marvelous I have attached them at the end of this blog. It is reassuring to hear and read and share these encouraging words from the Great Communicator. In some ways, virtually every word speaks to us as defenders of life. But there is one paragraph that leaps out. President Reagan said, "Christmas means so much because of one special child. But Christmas also reminds us that all children are special, that they are gifts from God, gifts beyond price that mean more than any presents money can buy. In their love and laughter, in our hopes for their future lies the true meaning of Christmas." Nothing--nothing--separates pro-lifers from pro-abortionists more than this rock-bottom difference: we really DO believe "all children are special." This is not some throwaway line, but a core principle. Children--born or unborn, flawless or "imperfect"--are each special, each unique, each of inestimable value. None can be dismissed as what the then-rock-hearted Ebenezer Scrooge dismissed as "surplus population." When my exhausted daughter-in-law is awakened at 2 in the morning by our first grandchild, she may be forgiven if she does not instantly think of "love and laughter." But Jean does understand (as do we) that babies like Emma Grace represent our hopes for the future. And she represented that hope just as
much when she nestled inside her mother's womb as she does now burrowed in
her grandfather's shoulder. Good evening. At Christmas time, every home takes
on a special beauty, a special warmth, and that's certainly true of the
White House, where so many famous Americans have spent their Christmases
over the years. This fine old home, the people's house, has seen so much,
been so much a part of all our lives and history. It's been humbling and
inspiring for Nancy and me to be spending our first Christmas in this place. At this special time of year, we all renew our sense of wonder in recalling the story of the first Christmas in Bethlehem, nearly 2,000 year ago. Some celebrate Christmas as the birthday of a great and good philosopher and teacher. Others of us believe in the divinity of the child born in Bethlehem, that he was and is the promised Prince of Peace. Yes, we've questioned why he who could perform miracles chose to come among us as a helpless babe, but maybe that was his first miracle, his first great lesson that we should learn to care for one another. Tonight, in millions of American homes, the glow of the Christmas tree is a reflection of the love Jesus taught us. Like the shepherds and wise men of that first Christmas, we Americans have always tried to follow a higher light, a star, if you will. At lonely campfire vigils along the frontier, in the darkest days of the Great Depression, through war and peace, the twin beacons of faith and freedom have brightened the American sky. At times our footsteps may have faltered, but trusting in God's help, we've never lost our way. Just across the way from the White House stand the two great emblems of the holiday season: a Menorah, symbolizing the Jewish festival of Hanukkah, and the National Christmas Tree, a beautiful towering blue spruce from Pennsylvania. Like the National Christmas Tree, our country is a living, growing thing planted in rich American soil. Only our devoted care can bring it to full flower. So, let this holiday season be for us a time of rededication. Christmas means so much because of one special child. But Christmas also reminds us that all children are special, that they are gifts from God, gifts beyond price that mean more than any presents money can buy. In their love and laughter, in our hopes for their future lies the true meaning of Christmas. So, in a spirit of gratitude for what we've been able to achieve together over the past year and looking forward to all that we hope to achieve together in the years ahead, Nancy and I want to wish you all the best of holiday seasons. As Charles Dickens, whom I quoted a few moments ago, said so well in A Christmas Carol, "God bless us, every one.'' Good night. |