Longfellow wrote, ‘I heard the bells on Christmas Day.’ The poem was written during the Civil War, a time of strife, division, and death in the United States. Henry said, ‘Their old familiar carols play, and mild and sweet The words repeat Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

So it goes with us. The Bells are ringing in our divided nation. We will gather around our Christmas Trees, eat our Christmas Pudding, and thank God for his gift of the Christ child. As we wish our neighbors well and think of the poor, can we imagine that families unlike us are doing the same?

‘I simply can not wait for Christmas, Jane said with glee.’ ‘I have been waiting for it all year,’ Jane added. ‘This year we are going to Gatlinburg, Tennessee for Christmas,’ she laughed as she rubbed her tiny hands together.

‘I have the Merlot packed,’ Neva J exclaimed. ‘We will have steaks at the Peddler,’ Neva J grinned. ‘I can not wait to ride the Sky Lift,’ she winked.

‘I am especially excited that Rosie is coming with us this year,’ Chet offered. ‘She often spent Christmas alone until Neva J made her a friend,’ Chet said. ‘Rosie loves JFK,’ Chet noted.

‘Rosie was shunned by her family for being an old school Democrat,’ Billy B said. ‘They are all fans of Barry Goldwater,’ Billy B explained. ‘It seems to me that culture has invaded politics in many ways…there was a time when all poor people were Democrats,’ Billy B continued.

‘Could it be that politicians are playing with us to obtain what they want,’ Chet smiled slyly?