A Christmas Wish

My young nephew asked “What do you want for Christmas, Uncle Jim?” I smiled at his innocent face; life seemed so easy for him. My answer left him nonplussed and rather perplexed; he looked at me in wonder, waiting for a punchline to come next. I did not mention material goods, or treats or anything tactile. It’s a gift, I said, that I have been praying for, a long, long while. I think about it often; it is not some caprice. What do I want for Christmas? Just one thing: peace. Peace for everyone, not just in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan, but peace for all humankind here at home and in every land. Yes, I know it sounds naïve but I refuse to give up hope. I know what people can achieve; and so often all it takes is the will to believe.