ON Christmas Day, 1914 German and British soldiers called a truce. 

They met each other in No-Man’s Land, swapped rations and played football.

This was after five months of the bloodiest war in history; they had seen thousands of their comrades killed and maimed.

It must have taken an immense act of faith to leave their trenches and stand up in the open when the day before to do so would have meant instant death.

I have spoken to many veterans from that war and very few bore a grudge against the Germans.

As one who was at that truce, said: “We didn’t hate them, they were just ordinary lads like us.”

After all that they had seen and suffered they still did not hate their opponents and could see them as fellow human beings. 

This must have been truest ever demonstration of the Christmas message of ‘Peace and Goodwill to all Mankind’.

Today, we do not face anything like the same immediate threats, privations or dangers; yet today many around us seem to show a suspicion and hatred towards others that would have been alien to those brave and honourable men.

If those soldiers could show forgiveness and tolerance, despite all that that they had suffered, how much easier should it be for us to forgive and show tolerance to others?

As the Centenary of the end of the Great War approaches in November 2018 what better memorial can we give those gallant men than to try to emulate their spirit of trust and compassion?

Sadly, we appear to live in an increasingly divided society but it doesn’t have to be like that.

Instead of living in fear of other people, be they migrants, refugees or just our fellow Europeans, how much better would it be to be look for what we have in common with them, see what we can learn from their lives and co exist in harmony.

I wish you all a Happy Christmas and a Peaceful New Year.