Omaha daily bee., 1909-12-19

for the other" instead of for himself. 1t
is the altruistic time.
We bring our gifts, and we say. Merry
Christmas and we feel at peace with
the world, and we feel goodwill toward
all men. Christmas Spirit!
The man who feels resentment or enmity
at Christmas. toward any one, deserves to
be banished to a region where friendship
is not known, where Christmas is never
observed, and where none but enemies
live together.
There should be no enemies at Christmas!
The writer of this column has a few
friends who think they are enemies, and
so have you. But remember, there are no
bad enemies! They are only friends in
disguise. They are kind, good friends, who
see points in your character which need
improving. and which, your friends, in
their blind love and devotion, do not see.
Mark 1t well, you nave no bad enemies.
There are no such things as bad enc
mics!
The great Christ-Man who walked his
earth, so many years ago. and whose
earthly birth you are celebrating this week,
said once upon a time, Love your enc
miles, And He would never have asked
w W wv eAAs 'iAAH NiANN 'o' hN' - ~
so good, and so pure, and so true, that He
would not, could not, have asked you to
love anything that was not good or true.
And when He said. Love your enemies, ."
He surely meant that what you considered
your wicked enemies, We're really friends in
disguise, who would develop, in you'll you
loved them, and did not hate them-all that
as lovely, and good and true, and moth
* else.
But, you say, II cannot love my enemis
hat Is quite impossible; il you knew IT,
-nemies I have. you would not say sue
a silly thing as that"
quite so, and you have answered IT,
lrgument yourself. III you knew the enc
mics ] have
Therefore no one knows your enemit
but yourself. Your dearest friend may NJ
Willingly invite you and your enemies {
dine together, being utterly unconscious [
any enmity existing between you.
That proves something, does II not? Does
II not show that your enemies are yours, "
because You have allowed them To make
themselves so2 You say MY enemies"
Wen, ] cannot force you to buy an auto
mobile, against your wishes; | cannot force
YOU to buy a stock or share in a
mine or orange grove against your
wishes; / cannot induce you TO take life in
surance against FOUR wishes; / cannot in
duce you TO buy a lot. or to invest in a
new apartment house against your wishes.
But II I could so induce you. then you
would speak Of MY automobile" You
would tell your friends OF MY mining
shares and My orange grove interests"
you would grow enthusiastic over My
lots and My investments"
Il Is just the same with an enemy.
can not force m enemy upon you, unless
you wish Il. You must first be willing to
accept the enemy. II Is not yours until you
actually "take possession"
Therefore, for you, there is no enemy un-
I'll you take possession OF that enemy, OF
enmity.
When you say, Il have an enemy" you
admit that you have taken possession OF
the enemy, not that the enemy has taker
possession of YOU.
The message OF THIS Christmas-tide 4
the same as II has always been; the sam,
as d was 20 those shepherds OF old. in In,
fields near Bethlehem. Peace. Goodwill
% all men These are the good tlding
OF great JOY. These tidings are FOR al
people. For unto YOU Is born his IA,
a saviour, which Is Christ, The Lord.