Winter provided a cessation of hostilities and Curt's father came up with
an idea. He asked his men to start saving their peaches and brownies
for a special reason. The reason became apparent when everyone was
invited to the village plaza for a Christmas celebration.
The soldiers built a bonfire and sang Christmas carols. And then the "big"
surprise for the French children who had endured 3 years of deprivation,
hunger, and horror. The soldiers doled out their saved peaches and brownies into their outstretched hands. Somehow everyone experienced the pure delight of seeing these suffering children hungrily devour these sweets with so much relish that they all experienced a warm feeling at the sight.
That Christmas Eve proved special for soldiers and villagers alike. For a
short time they both forgot the terrible violence of war. No one in that village would ever forget the simple gesture which brought such simple joy to their children. And I'm sure that the soldiers would always be glad that they had shared the "best" part of their C-Rations with the war-torn children of that little village in France. After all, isn't that the true meaning and spirit of Christmas?
I also enjoyed reading the postscript at the bottom of this story re MREs "Modern C-rations":
"Unlike the troops of World War II whose meals consisted of very basic pork or beef meat product and daily "essentials" like toilet paper and cigarettes,
today's soldiers choose from up to 24 entrees like chili and beans, chicken
fajitas, or veggie burgers in BBQ sauce, and from up to 150 additional sides
and drinks that make up today's MREs, or "meals, ready to eat." U.S ARMY
I was delighted to read of the inclusion of "veggie" burgers. It tells me that
there are indeed "macho" soldiers who are also probably vegetarian.
Why will this probably be the last Catholic Digest I will be reading? The word "Catholic" means universal and has generally applied to the openess of the church to be accepting of all peoples regardless of race or color. But for me the word has wider scope and we should be concerned not only with humans but with all that God has created and that includes the animals. There is almost no mention of them in this magazine and sadly, they are not even mentioned in our churches. Their needs are not being met by religious organizations and this saddens me. Animals are God's creatures too and
everything He made is good.
However, I was happy and surprised to read Fyodor Dostoyevsky's wonderful thoughts in this Catholic Digest's "Quiet Moment" for December 6th:
"Love the animals, love the plants, love everything.
If you love everything, you will perceive the divine mystery in things.
Once you perceive it, you will begin to comprehend it better every day.
And you will come at last to love the whole world with an all- embracing love."
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
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