Christmas is called the season of cheer, but for many it still remains
anything but that. This is the time of year many celebrate Godís
goodness and love to all, but to others.... It reminds them of a time
when all that they loved and held dear was torn from them.

You.... a people from other lands came to this land searching for
freedom and peace. With no means of survival, we became teacher to you.
We saw your people.... women, children, and the aged starving, and cold.

Food and blankets, we shared with you. What knowledge we had, we shared
with you. You learned how to plant, sow, and hunt. We taught you how
to survive.

You shared with us too, but.... your gifts, we could have better
survived without. The gifts you bore were greed, selfishness, and
contempt for your fellow man. But those are not the worst of gifts born
by you.... the intruders.

The one whom you called ěGodî, you brought to us. He was called a God
of justice, mercy, love, and peace. With your mouths, you taught He
loved everyone, but.... your actions did not reflect the words you
spoke. Harshness was returned for kindness... hatred for love... war
for peace... and death for life.

I know God. We call Him the Great Spirit. He is all the things that
you taught that He is. But there is one variation between what I know
and what you say you know. I know that I must live what I teach to
others before they will believe and embrace it.

ěPeace on earth good will toward menî. This is what God offered to all
mankind. He sent his only Son for the redemption of all. But have
those of you, who call yourselves His children, conducted your lives in
a manner of this precious Gift of redemption and peace? I hardly think
it so.

So very few lived.... or live now as we should. Not just this
season.... but all seasons should be treated as He meant for them to
be. Now is always the time for caring, helping, loving, and healing.
All must do this for there to be true ěPeace On Earth, Good Will Toward
Men!

Let It Begin With Me,

T.W. Martindale
(Sagwu Usdi)