Christmas Truce

This is one of my favorite Christmas stories!

On the first Christmas day of World War I, British and German troops put down their guns and peacefully celebrated the Advent in the no-man’s land between the trenches. The war briefly came to a halt. All along the lines that Christmas Day, soldiers found their enemies were much like them.

In some places, festivities began when German soldiers lit candles on trees. Elsewhere, the British acted first, starting bonfires and letting off rockets. Pvt. Oswald Tilley of the London Rifle Brigade wrote to his parents; “Just you think that while you were eating your turkey, etc., I was out talking and shaking hands with the very men I had been trying to kill a few hours before! It was astounding.” The soldiers in gray and khaki sang carols to each other, exchanged gifts of tobacco, jam, sausage, chocolate, and traded names and addresses. They even played soccer between the shell holes and barbed wire.

This day is called “the most famous truce in military history.” It did not originate in the hearts of the national leaders, or even in the minds of the generals, in fact they were highly concerned as to whether the troops would have a will to fight afterwards. It started in the trenches, among the troops! In the midst of the fierce fighting, peace came as they remembered the birthday of the Prince of Peace!

Jesus said it this way, “My peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you. I do not give unto you as the world gives. Do not let your heart be troubled, and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27) On the occasion of Christmas 2007, He is still our Peace!