What Is Peace?

 

 What is peace? Why do we wish each other peace during the holiday season & during the rest of the year it becomes a non-existent rarely used phrase? According to Merriam-Webster it means 1. a state of traquility or quiet; a freedom from civil disturbance; a state of security or order within a community provided for by custom. 2.Harmony in personal relations. 3. Freedom from diquieting or oppressive thoughts or emotions. 4. A state or period of mutual concord between governments; a pact or agreement to end end hostilities between those who have been at war or in a state of enmity. 5. Used interjectionally to ask for silence or calm or as a greeting or farewell. While I’m sure these definitions are all lined with good intentions the question still goes unanswered; why can’t we have and pass these feelings on to the next person in a genuine manner year round?

I love the Christmas season because I have two small boys who still believe in Santa Claus. I’m not big on all the gift giving because that seems a bit contrived but to see their sleepy faces on Christmas morning makes it worth it. My absolute favorite part of the entire season is leaving cookies & milk for Santa & carrots for the reindeer on the fireplace & having to take bites out of the food & leaving a thank you note from Santa. I’m not sure why but it brings tears to my eyes.

I know that there is peace in my household on Christmas morning because I can feel it and I wish that I could have that feeling where ever I go each and every day of the year. Wouldn’t the world be a better place? I think so.

I would like to take this opportunity to wish peace to all in their lives both during the holiday season & the rest of the year. I especially wish our troops who are away from their famililies peace & I pray that they come home safely.

“…men have gone to war and cut each other’s throats because they couldn’t agree as to what was to become of them after their throats were cut.”

Walter Parker Stacy (1908-1951) Chief Justice North Carolina Supreme Court