A Gift of Peace

By Dr. Jane C. Pan

"For a child is born to us, a son is given to us. The government will rest on his shoulders. These will be his royal titles: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,

Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." Isaiah 9:6

When we found out Robert, my husband had terminal liver cancer and the doctor only gave him 3 months to 6 months of time left to live, we knew we would be all right. We came out of the doctor's office with the kind of peace that surpasses all understanding. The peace that is spiritual and resided deep in our hearts. The peace we were given was the kind that only the Christ child can give, because he is the Prince of Peace.

Perhaps you will understand what I am talking about more clearly, after I illustrate to you this true story:

During a war that took more than eight-and-half million souls in 1914, the British and the Germans were fiercely battling as if all hell broke loose. Both sides were so busy fighting across from the battlefront that they could not find the time burying their dead around their holed-up, mud-filled trenches. It was on a cold and snowy Christmas evening this unthinkable event happened. No one was sure, how it started, perhaps one of the German soldiers was looking up in the sky and saw a bright star twinkling high above a tall fir tree. It reminded him of the Christmas tree that he and his family decorated a few years back, which just seemed like yesterday. He began to sing in German, "Silent Night, Holy Night, All is clam, and all is bright. Round yon virgin mother and child. Holy infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace....." His German comrades had lighted a Christmas tree near their trenches and were singing loudly in unison. The British soldiers, although separated from their enemy just across the way, were so emotionally touched and felt the peace of Christ that they began to sing along in English. After the first song, the English soldiers began another Christmas carol, "The first Noel, the angels did say...." The Germans were so excited that they applauded loudly and began the third carol, "O Tannenbaum, O Tannenbaum..." to which the English replied with "Adeste Fideles, Laeti triumphantes, Venite, venite in Bethlehem..." in Latin. The Germans knew Latin and together they sang in joy and happiness. They started to harmonize in German and British voices the last carol, "O Come, Let Us Adore Him!" Then the Germans put up a large sign in broken English: "YOU NO SHOOT, WE NO SHOOT!" To this, the British replied with "MERRY CHRISTMAS!"

It was said that this was the night where gunshots were not heard, but merry-making and happy sounds of gifts exchanging. Whatever the soldiers of either side treasured, they shared. Both sides crossed the forbidden battle line and celebrated peace through the Prince of Peace, their Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

If the Prince of Peace can bring such joy and happiness to enemies of the world during a major world war, cannot he also grant peace to those who honestly seek it?

Are you unhappy in your marriage? What part of this unhappiness are you contributing? Why not make peace with your spouse and call a truce. I know you cannot have the power or the courage to make the truce alone by yourself. You need the Prince of Peace to help you. He can. He did for my husband and me during the toughest times of our lives. It is a miracle to see my husband alive, happy, and well today. We have the love of our Prince of Peace and are living joyfully each day. We do not know what is going to happen tomorrow. However, this we are assured of, the peace that we have today enables us to live honorably and gloriously not for ourselves but for those who are around us.

As Christmas is encroaching and you are busy buying gifts, and are thinking about what kind of gifts you like to receive. May you have the best gift that money cannot buy, the gift of Peace!

Inquiry to: Panedu@bellsouth.net