I want to share with you the email I received from our new Police Chief in Harper, Doug Murphy. I don't know if this is his original, at this point, so for now I will say I received it from him and wish to share with you on this Christmas Day.
This Christmas Eve, as I looked out the window at the blowing snow I couldn't help but remember that exactly 233 years ago tonight General George Washington and his starving and frozen army sat near the shore of the Delaware River. Having lost every battle to this point Washington was on the verge of being replaced and the war being lost. That Christmas eve, in a freezing fog, Washington made a bold move under the code word "Liberty of Death" and quietly moved 6000 troops and artillary across the Delaware River. That next early Christmas morning they surprised the Hessian troops and won the FIRST decisive battle of the Revolutionary war.
Two days prior at the depth of moral and sufferage for the army, Thomas Paine penned "The American Crisis" which Washington had read to all of his troops prior to their bold venture across the Delaware.
"These are the times that try men’s souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as freedom should not be highly rated. Britain, with an army to enforce her tyranny, has declared that she has a right (not only to tax) but "to bind us in all cases whatsoever," and if being bound in that manner, is not slavery, then is there not such a thing as slavery upon earth. Even the expression is impious; for so unlimited a power can belong only to God."
God gave us the unalienable rights of Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness and our Saviour Jesus Christ was born upon this eve and then gave his life and blood to save our souls. Both our souls and liberties have been puchased with precious blood, obviously not of equal stature, yet both must constantly be defended from attack. Protecting your soul is a personal endeavor while the protection of our liberty is a group effort.
Thomas Jefferson said "The tree of Liberty needs to be watered from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." I just wanted to remind you of those patriots of so long ago, how their Christmas of 1776 was so different from ours today and for a moment to think how their effort on that night has affected how we celebrate today - as Free Men.
Have a wonderful Christmas!