Tales about Christmas echo spirit of season–Almanack by Richard Milliman

Almanack–by Richard L. Milliman

Tales about Christmas echo spirit of season

(Note to readers: I have been writing the Almanack for many years. So far, the deep spirit of the Christmas season have survived, so regular readers may have read some of these thoughts in years past. Merry Christmas to all!)

THE WORLD HAS been busy fighting wars during far too many Christmas seasons in earlier times. For many young men just over 100 years ago, Christmas probably was not a day eagerly anticipated.

They were British soldiers and German soldiers fighting each other in a fierce war and separated from home and loved ones as Christmas came. America had not yet joined what became World War I.

But strange things happened on the World War I battlefront in 1914 … a miracle perhaps.

On the Western Front, fighting had been fierce, but on Christmas Eve in 1914, firing from the German trenches suddenly stopped. British soldiers then halted their firing, too.

All was quiet. It became an unofficial and unexpected Christmas peace.

Although soldiers on both sides had been warned sternly against fraternization, some German soldiers and some British soldiers left their rifles behind and cautiously emerged from their separate trenches into no-man’s land.

Then more soldiers on both sides came out, too. Soon they were shaking hands, wishing each other Merry Christmas, even exchanging cigarettes and schnapps. Soldiers from different nations traded names and addresses and joined together in Christmas songs.

Christmas trees and lanterns appeared from the trenches. The Germans brought out a keg of beer, and the British produced tins so beef and jam.

Makeshift soccer games even developed.

The unofficial Christmas truce began on Christmas Eve and lasted all of Christmas Day.

On the morning after Christmas, the British captain fired three shots in the air, and returned to his post on the British side.

His German counterpart, who had been drinking beer with the British officer just hours earlier, also had returned to the German side.

The two officers bowed to each other, saluted, and all the troops returned to their own lines.

A few minutes later, the Germans fired two shots into the air.

And the war was back on again.

THE STORY of the Christmas Truce during World War I is a fascinating tale, and indicates how the magic of Christmas can be at work …… if we give it a chance.

Is it truth, or is it fable?

It must be true, because just a few days ago one of the major TV network news shows presented the story, with real live action shots, picturing soccer play and drinking beer and lots of good will.

I don’t know how the network got the live photos, but as we all know, if it’s on TV, it must be true.

CHRISTMAS IS especially for children. Can children grasp the idea of God and the Baby Jesus? Of course they can. If you doubt it, just talk to some children.

“God is a good friend to have.”

That’s one of the delightful comments from kids about God, collected a few years ago in a book under that precise title. Here are some other comments in that book, perhaps simple, yet insightful:

“God wants peace and quiet, just like my father.”

“God is always listening to everything. I bet He wishes He could turn it off sometimes.”

“God is who tells you when you have to die and it does not matter how old you are either. You have to do it.”

“God is someone you can hear inside and feel all over, but you can’t see Him or touch Him. But that isn’t too important.”

“God is a spirit, not like a ghost or scary or anything, but like a big person who isn’t really there.”

“God is whatever you think He is, but not a girl.”

“We really don’t know where God is, but you have to believe in Him before you can find Him. It’s the only way.”

We can learn from the thoughts and words of children, because indeed, God is a good friend to have.

SIGN OFF – I close this year’s Christmas thoughts with these Irish Christma

s wishes for all our Almanack friends. I wish …..

The light of the Christmas Star to you.

The warmth of home and hearth to you.

The cheer and good will of friends to you.

The hope of a child like heart to you.

The joys of a thousand angels to you.

The love of the Son and God’s peace to you.

(A member of the Michigan Journalism Hall of Fame and founder of the Michigan Press Foundation, Richard L. Milliman is a former publisher of the Presque Isle County Advance. His column appears in several fine Michigan weekly publications. )