Cross Corridor
4:15 P.M. EST
THE PRESIDENT: Good afternoon. “How silently, how silently, the wondrous Reward is given.”
There’s a sure stillness on the middle of the Christmas story. A silent night time when all of the world goes quiet and all of the glamour, all of the noise, every thing that divides us, every thing that pits us in opposition to each other, every thing — every thing that appears so vital however actually isn’t, this all fades away in stillness of the winter’s night.
And we glance to the sky, to a lone star, shining brighter than all the remainder, guiding us to the delivery of a kid — a baby Christians imagine to be the son of God; miraculously now, right here amongst us on Earth, bringing hope, love and peace and pleasure to the world.
Sure, it’s a narrative that’s 2,000 years outdated, but it surely’s nonetheless very a lot alive as we speak. Simply look into the eyes of a kid
on Christmas morning, or hearken to the laughter of a household collectively this vacation season after years — after years of being aside. Simply really feel the hope rising in your chest as you sing “Hark! The Herald Angels Sing,” regardless that you’ve sung the numerous instances earlier than.
Sure, even after 2,000 years, Christmas nonetheless has the facility to carry us up, to deliver us collectively, to alter lives, to alter the world.
The Christmas story is on the coronary heart of the Christmas — Christian religion. However the message of hope, love, peace, and pleasure, they’re additionally common.
It speaks to all of us, whether or not we’re Christian, Jewish, Hindu, Muslim, Buddhist, or some other religion, or no religion in any respect. It speaks to all of us as human beings who’re right here on this Earth to take care of each other, to look out for each other, to like each other.
The message of Christmas is at all times vital, but it surely’s particularly vital via robust instances, like those we’ve been via the previous few years.
The pandemic has taken a lot from us. We’ve misplaced a lot time with each other. We’ve misplaced so many individuals — individuals we liked. Over one million lives misplaced in America alone. That’s one million empty chairs breaking hearts in properties all throughout the nation.
Our politics has gotten so offended, so imply, so partisan. And too usually we see one another as enemies, not as neighbors; as Democrats or Republicans, not as fellow Individuals. We’ve grow to be too divided.
However as robust as these instances have been, if we glance a little bit nearer, we see vibrant spots all throughout the nation: the power, the willpower, the resilience that’s lengthy outlined America.
We’re certainly making progress. Issues are getting higher. COVID lon- — now not controls our lives. Our children are again in class. Individuals are again to work. In reality, extra persons are working than ever earlier than.
Individuals are constructing once more, innovating once more, dreaming once more.
So my hope this Christmas season is that we take a number of moments of quiet reflection and discover that stillness within the coronary heart of Christmas — that’s on the coronary heart of Christmas, and look — actually have a look at one another, not as Democrats or Republicans, not as members of “Crew Pink” or “Crew Blue,” however as who we actually are: fellow Individuals. Fellow human beings worthy of being handled with dignity and respect.
I sincerely hope this holiway [sic] se- — this vacation season will drain the poison that has contaminated our politics and set us in opposition to each other.
I hope this Christmas season marks a recent begin for our nation, as a result of there’s a lot that unites us as Individuals, a lot extra that unites us than divides us.
We’re really blessed to reside on this nation. And I actually hope we take the time to look out — look out for each other. Not at one — for each other.
So many individuals battle at Christmas. It may be a time of nice ache and horrible loneliness. I do know, like a lot of .
It was 50 years in the past this week that I misplaced my first spouse and my toddler daughter in a automobile accident, and my two sons had been badly injured, once they had been out looking for a Christmas tree. I understand how onerous this time of 12 months may be.
However right here’s what I discovered way back: Nobody — nobody can ever know what another person goes via, what’s actually happening of their life, what they’re combating, what they’re making an attempt to beat.
That’s why typically the smallest act of kindness can imply a lot. A easy smile. A hug. An sudden telephone name. A quiet cup of espresso. Easy acts of kindness that may carry a spirit, present compo- — consolation, and maybe perhaps even save a life.
So, this Christmas, let’s unfold a little bit kindness.
This Christmas, let’s be that — that serving to hand, that robust shoulder, that pleasant voice when nobody else appears to care for individuals who are struggling, in bother, in want. It simply may be the very best reward you’ll be able to ever give.
And let’s be sure you bear in mind the courageous men and women in uniform who defend and shield our nation. A lot of them — a lot of them are away from their households at the moment of 12 months. Let’s hold them in our prayers.
, and I imagine Christmas is a season of hope. And all through the lifetime of this nation, it’s been in the course of the weeks of December — even within the midst of a few of our hardest days — that a few of the greatest chapters of our story have been written.
It was throughout these weeks again in 1862 that President Lincoln ready the Emancipation Proclamation, which he issued on New Yr’s Day.
At Christmas 1941, within the week — weeks after Pearl Harbor, Franklin Delano Roosevelt hosted Winston Churchill on this White Home. Collectively, they deliberate the Allied technique to defeat fascism and autocracy.
And it was 1968 that essentially the most horrible 12 months — of years — a 12 months of assassination and riot, of battle and chaos — that the astronauts of Apollo 8 circled the Moon and spoke to us right here on Earth.
From the silence of house, on a silent night time on a Christmas Eve, they learn the story of Christmas — Creation from the King James Bible. It went: “At first God created Heaven and Earth. And God mentioned, ‘Let there be mild,’ and there was mild.”
That mild remains to be with us, illuminating our manner ahead as Individuals and as residents of the world. A light-weight that burned at first and at Bethlehem. A light-weight that shines nonetheless as we speak in our personal time, our personal lives.
As we sing “O’ Holy Night time” — “His legislation is love, and His Gospel is peace” — could I want you and for you, and for our nation, now and at all times, is that we’ll reside within the mild — the sunshine of liberty and hope, of affection and generosity, of kindness and compassion, of dignity and decency.
So, from the Biden household, we want you and your loved ones peace, pleasure, well being, and happiness.
Merry Christmas. Blissful Holidays. And all the very best within the New Yr.
God bless you all. And should God shield our troops. Thanks.
4:23 P.M. EST