A Creed for Christmas

I think of Christmas as a time of peace, a time to reflect on the past year and celebrate with our families. It can be a time of new beginnings and a time to set aside past grievances.  As an old Christmas carol proclaims:

Now to the Lord sing praises,

All you within this place,

And with true love and brotherhood

Each other now embrace;

This holy tide of Christmas

All other doth deface.

O tidings of comfort and joy,

Comfort and joy

O tidings of comfort and joy.

With these thoughts of true love and brotherhood, I share the following. The author is unknown.

Creed of Babies with Down Syndrome

My face may be different,

But my feelings the same,

I laugh, I cry,

I take pride in my gains.

I was sent here among you

To teach you to love.

As God in the heavens

Looks down from above.

To Him I’m no different,

His love knows no bounds.

It’s those here among you

In cities and towns,

That judge me by standards

That man has imparted.

But the family He’s chosen

Will help me get started.

For I’m one of His children,

So special and few,

That came here to learn

The same lessons as you.

That love is acceptance,

It must come from the heart.

We all have the same purpose,

Though not the same start.

The Lord gave me life

To live and embrace.

And I’ll do it as you do,

Just at my own pace.

My wish for 2010 is we continue to accept and celebrate the extraordinary diversity in our world.

Merry Christmas and a Happy and Healthy New Year to all!