A Christmas Request

Dear Santa,

The family is fine health wise, and I have no gift requests. By this time in my life, I’ve acquired at least two of everything I need and don’t need. Let’s focus gifts on the children.

Speaking of children, St. Luke’s prayer for “Peace on Earth and Goodwill towards men” took a beating this year. Around the globe more children, the survivors, are now living in poverty and ill health in refugee camps than a year ago.

In Europe, the Russian-Ukrainian war continues unabated. In the middle east, Hezbollas’s attack on Israel a year ago exceeded its objective by provoking a massive year-long retaliation and spilling over into Lebanon. And most recently a major military offensive in Syria drove out the former dictator Assad and looks like a Taliban style government may replace him. These wars have created millions of new refugees, and many are children with some becoming orphans too.

As a former child refugee, I would ask Santa’s helpers to consider a gift to one of these fine charities or the charity of your choice.