Days of December: Peace

When I thought about the word peace this morning, this song immediately popped into my head.

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.

Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our Father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.

Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
In peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.

This song was written by Vince Gill.

 

As I hummed it, letting the words run through my mind, I started to think about those words "And let it begin with me".

I started to feel bothered by them.  

Peace doesn't begin with me.   It doesn't.  It can play out through my actions and attitude, but it really doesn't begin with me.  It begins with God, from the very beginning of time.

Adam and Eve sinned, and God promised this, that even though there would forever be conflict between man and Satan, between man and God...that Satan might bruise our heels but we shall bruise his head.  Throughout scripture we can find references to how God will best Satan, and in Revelations we see that truth fully revealed.   So Satan HAS been beaten (it just hasn't been fully completed yet).   and I fear I am not saying this all correctly....so work more with my thoughts than my words.   If that makes sense.  :)

Will there truly be peace on earth until that final day?

No.  There can't be.  God promised in Genesis 2

I will put enmity between you and the woman,
    and between your offspring and her offspring;
he shall bruise your head,
    and you shall bruise his heel

So until one or the other is destroyed, there will be no peace.  Enmity means no peace.

BUT peace is still hoped for and longer for and sought after.

Peace can still be seen in small part in the things we say and do and how we live.

We don't have to fight and make war and what not.  

 Peace, can be seen and lived in part, and shows as if in a mirror dimly, what will come.

This post is part of my Days of December series, The others so far are:

Weather.

Santa Based Christmas Books

Do you do Santa at your house?   There are many people who do, and if so...I have a couple of picture books that just might delight your children this Christmas season.

Santa, in the eyes of so many, is getting set to come to town.  Have you been naughty, have you been nice?   Excited children want to know... Santa where are you?

Does Santa really care?  Does Santa have the time he needs to bring everyone presents?

Today I have two books here that will help excited children answer their questions about Santa.

Santa's Sleigh is on it's way to my house is a hardcover book about an excited little girl who can hardly sleep because SANTA IS COMING to HER HOUSE.  Santa is coming.  Santa is coming!!!

Beautifully illustrated, with select easy to read lines if you want to read it with your children.  Lines like  HEY SANTA HEY SANTA!   In this book, all those questions children have about Santa are answered, and some additional ones are raised, like does Santa really have a motor on his sleigh?

It's actually a nice little book, the last part of it making me smile, as a sleepy child COMPLETELY misses out on seeing Santa as he becomes a broom, or a curtain or .....  For Santa lovers, this book will go over rather well.
 

Written by Eric James

Illustrated by Robert Dunn 

Published by: Sourcebooks
Size: 10.86 x 8.75 

32 pages
Ages 3-6 years 
Affiliate link, Amazon.com Santa's Sleigh Is on Its Way to My House: A Christmas Adventure

Presents Through the Window answers the question, what would Santa do if he's running out of time... afterall..all those presents must be delivered!   What would Santa do?  Even if he's an unusual helicopter riding, pink-suited Santa.

Santa has a great solution...he'll just look through the window, see who is there and toss a present through a window.   It's actually a book I think children would get a kick out of... potentially.  It could, depending on the child, raise fears that Santa MIGHT get it wrong too.

Santa is peeking through windows, that are interactive.   Do you see the cut out?

Some children might find it simply hilarious how many times Santa simply gets it wrong, and BADLY.  BUT by the end of the book it all works out.  Everyone has a present, and everyone is happy.  It's just a silly little book answering the question of what would Santa do if he was running too short on time and just needs those presents delivered.

Author: Taro Gomi
Publisher: Chronicle Books
Size: 9.43 x 8.91
36 pages
Ages 3-5

Affiliate Link: Amazon.com: Presents Through the Window: A Taro Gomi Christmas Book