Reagan at Christmas: To ‘Millions of Us, Jesus Is Significantly More, He Is Divine’

In his Dec. 24, 1983 radio address to the country, President Ronald Reagan recounted George Washington’s crossing of the Delaware River in 1776, which transformed the system of U.S. historical past praised Us residents for their generosity and talked about Christmas as the “birthday of the Prince of Peace” who, for thousands and thousands of us, “is divine.”

“It is been reported that all the kings who at any time reigned, that all the parliaments that at any time sat have not performed as a great deal to progress the bring about of peace on Earth and superior will to adult men as the person from Galilee, Jesus of Nazareth,” says Reagan. 

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Below are the total remarks by President Reagan on that Christmas Eve. 

My fellow Us citizens:

Like so lots of of your houses, the White House is brimming with greens, vibrant decorations, and a tree trimmed and all set for Xmas working day. And when Nancy and I appear out from our upstairs windows, we can see the Nationwide Xmas Tree standing in majestic natural beauty. Its lights fill the air with a spirit of appreciate, hope, and pleasure from the heart of The usa.

I shared that spirit not long ago when a young girl named Amy Benham helped me light our countrywide tree. Amy experienced mentioned that the tree that lights up our country should be witnessed all the way to heaven. And she reported that her wish was to assist me flip on its lights. Well, Amy’s desire arrived true. But the biggest present was mine, for the reason that I noticed her eyes light-weight up with hope and joy just as brightly as the lights on our nationwide tree. And I’m positive they ended up each witnessed all the way to heaven, and they designed the angels sing.

Xmas is a time for kids, and rightly so. We celebrate the birthday of the Prince of Peace who arrived as a babe in a manger. Some celebrate Xmas as the birthday of a wonderful teacher and philosopher. But to other millions of us, Jesus is substantially more. He is divine, dwelling assurance that God so loved the environment He gave us His only begotten Son so that by believing in Him and finding out to really like each individual other we could one working day be alongside one another in paradise.

It is been said that all the kings who ever reigned, that all the parliaments that ever sat have not finished as substantially to advance the induce of peace on Earth and fantastic will to gentlemen as the male from Galilee, Jesus of Nazareth.

Christmas is also a time to recall the treasures of our personal history. We bear in mind one particular Christmas in certain, 1776, our first calendar year as a country. The Revolutionary War experienced been heading poorly. But George Washington’s religion, bravery, and leadership would transform the tide of record our way. On Christmas evening he led a band of ragged troopers throughout the Delaware River by driving snow to a victory that saved the lead to of independence. It’s claimed that their route of march was stained by bloody footprints, but their spirit hardly ever faltered and their will could not be crushed.

The impression of George Washington kneeling in prayer in the snow is a person of the most famous in American heritage. He personified a people who understood it was not more than enough to count on their individual courage and goodness they will have to also seek out assistance from God, their Father and Preserver.

In a couple of several hours, households and friends across The us will sign up for with each other in caroling get-togethers and Xmas Eve companies. With each other, we are going to renew that spirit of faith, peace, and offering which has usually marked the character of our individuals.  In our times of quiet reflection I know we will remember our fellow citizens who may possibly be lonely and in want tonight.

“Is the Christmas spirit even now alive?” some check with. Perfectly, you wager it is. Staying People, we open up our hearts to neighbors significantly less fortunate. We try to defend them from starvation and cold. And we access out in so a lot of strategies — from toys-for-tots drives throughout the country, to fantastic will by the Salvation Army, to American Crimson Cross attempts which give food, shelter, and Xmas cheer from Atlanta to Seattle.

Churches are so generous it truly is unachievable to hold observe. One instance: Reverend Invoice Singles’ Presbyterian Conference Household in nearby Alexandria, Virginia, is simultaneously sponsoring sizzling meals on wheels plans, producing and providing hundreds of sandwiches and box loads of clothing, whilst visiting local hospitals and sending postcards to shut-ins and religious dissidents abroad.

Enable us bear in mind the families who manage a check out for their missing in action. And, of course, enable us remember all those who are persecuted inside of the Soviet bloc — not mainly because they commit a crime, but mainly because they adore God in their hearts and want the flexibility to celebrate Hanukkah or worship the Christ Youngster.

And for the reason that religion for us is not an empty term, we invoke the electrical power of prayer to unfold the spirit of peace. We check with protection for our troopers who are guarding peace tonight — from frigid outposts in Alaska and the Korean demilitarized zone to the shores of Lebanon. Just one Lebanese mom instructed us that her minor lady had only attended college 2 of the final 8 decades. Now, she mentioned, mainly because of our existence there her daughter can dwell a ordinary everyday living.

With endurance and firmness we can assistance convey peace to that strife-torn location and make our possess lives far more secure. The Xmas spirit of peace, hope, and like is the spirit People have with them all calendar year round, almost everywhere we go. As very long as we do, we want hardly ever be fearful, mainly because trusting in God is the a single certain answer to all the issues we experience.

Until following week, many thanks for listening, God bless you, and Merry Christmas.