Having Good Will

Dear Linda:


My son enlisted in the Army and is fighting in Afghanistan. I’m angry at him for putting himself in harm’s way and at those responsible for perpetuating the war. The Christmas season is upon us and I know I’m called by God to have Good Will for others but I’m struggling with that notion when there is no Peace on Earth. Is there something I can do to generate a feeling of Good Will? I don’t want to ruin the holidays.

Mary

Dear Mary:

You and your son are sacrificing so much for the benefit of other human beings—the greatest of which is freedom—to protect ours and accomplish theirs. For this, we are grateful beyond all words, as there aren’t any grand enough to thank a young man for risking his life and a mother for risking her child.

You are both making the ultimate sacrifice, and feelings about that can be ambivalent— pride, respect, terror, and anger. We’re afraid of losing forever that which is most precious.

You’re facing Christmas without your son. That would be a hardship for every mother, so don’t be too hard on yourself. Others will understand.

It’s also be a terrible struggle to reconcile the irony of wishing for Peace on Earth when we are at war, but wishing for peace doesn’t make it so. Sometimes we have to fight to protect it.

Good Will should not be based on circumstances. God asks that we have Good Will toward others even in the worst of times, and every day of the year, not just at Christmas.

Judging others keeps us from having Good Will. When we get past that and achieve real humility, we find that others, regardless of differences in race, religion, class and opinion, are the same at heart.

Developing the power of Good Will begins with a decision. Practicing the gift of Good Will purifies the spirit of the individual and brings peace to the world.

A Blessed Christmas to all.