Christmas Greetings from the White House

Radio Commentary, 90.7, 91.7, 107.1 New Life FM, December 24, 2010
By Sue Ella Deadwyler

Good morning, Jim. On December 18, 1980, President Jimmy Carter lit his final National Christmas Tree that remained illuminated only 417 seconds. Each second represented a day Americans had been held hostage in Iran.

When President Reagan lit the National Christmas Tree in 1988, he explained Christmas as the coming of a Savior, the King of Kings, Prince of Peace, our Redeemer, Whose birth in a stable was an event on which all history would turn.

In 1989 President George Herbert Walker Bush and First Lady Barbara rang the Salvation Army bell and greeted all who dropped money into the Christmas kettle. President H.W. Bush ended his national greeting with these words, “At Christmas, we, too, rejoice in the mystery of God’s love for us – love revealed through the gift of Christ’s birth.”

At the lighting of the National Christmas Tree in 1996 President Bill Clinton reminded the nation of the birth of the Son of God, the King of Kings, Who came among us as servant and Savior. Then, he concluded his greeting with, “Merry Christmas, and God bless you.”

In December 2007 President Georgia W. Bush and First Lady Laura, rejoicing in the birth of Jesus, identified Him as God incarnate. Then explained, “At Christmastime, Christians celebrate God’s love revealed to the world through Christ. And the message of Jesus is one that all Americans can embrace this holiday season…. Laura joins me in wishing you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. May God’s blessings of peace be upon us and upon the world.”

In his lengthy Christmas greeting to the nation in 2009, President Barack Obama, briefly, acknowledged the birth of Jesus in these sentences, “But even in these tough times, there’s still so much to celebrate this Christmas. A message of peace and brotherhood that continues to inspire more than 2,000 years after Jesus’ birth.”

Many U.S. presidents have greeted us at Christmas by acknowledging the birth of Jesus, the Son of God, Who is our Redeemer, Who was born to die on the cross for our sins. Today, I say to you, “Merry Christmas!” To Him I say, “Even so, come, Lord Jesus!” For Georgia Insight I’m Sue Ella Deadwyler, your Capitol correspondent.