Published December 2007 — Download PDF of the original newspaper column
Byrd's-Eye View By U.S. Senator Robert C. Byrd Christmas Spirit is Alive and Well in West Virginia It is my Christmas wish that we all keep more of the Christmas spirit with us throughout the coming year. Charles Dickens said it best: "I will hold Christmas in heart and try to keep it all the year." Christmas is a time of peace, and a celebration of the birth of Jesus, whose message of love for His fellow man included tolerance, kindness, and humility. These days, it takes effort to carve out enough time and energy from the ceaseless march of consumerism to find the true spirit of Christmas. Thankfully, that spirit is still alive and well even amid all of the bright lights and holiday parties. The true spirit of Christmas can be seen in the piles of canned goods donated to food banks. It is alive and well in the generous responses to 'angel trees', which allow the fulfillment of the Christmas wishes of children in need. The message of the birth and life of Jesus thrives in the music sung by Christmas choirs in magnificent performances. Each Christmas season, inspiring choir renditions of favorite carols can be heard throughout the churches of West Virginia. There are few things more uplifting than coming out of an evening church service, buoyed up by the sweet melodies of traditional music, accompanied by a host of stars sparkling like diamonds across the nighttime sky. All the carols we learned as children, in church or around the family piano, resonate in our memories - the three kings following the "Yonder Star," the stars shining brightly on that Holy night, the manger in Bethlehem, and the Holy mother and child on that silent night. Each year, these images rise anew from the deep well of childhood, bringing with them fond images of happy times and family members dear to our hearts. This year, many families will look to the stars and hear the music of the season and know that far across the globe, their loved ones gaze up at those same stars remembering home and the Christmas story. For our troops especially, we pray for peace, and their speedy return to the loving arms of their families. May you share in an abundance of God's blessings in this Holy Christmas season and in the New Year. December 19, 2007