CREEDE HINSHAW: Christmas greetings of encouragement

Christmas is a 12 day season, so people still have time to send greetings to others. Here are some individuals and groups I would send words of encouragement to over Christmas.

To Pope Francis who is guiding the Roman Catholic Church with humility and grace within the constraints of an historic church. May you continue to be pontiff – bridge builder to peoples, nations and individuals.

To families who grieve over the incomprehensible death of a son or daughter to violence, especially to the families of Eric Garner and Michael Brown. May you find answers to your questions and support in your journey.

To those who protect us in life-threatening situations: law enforcement personnel, firefighters, EMTs, and others. May you be supported and sustained in an underpaid, underappreciated and dangerous vocation. Heartfelt sympathy is extended to the grieving families of murdered New York City police officers Wenjian Liu and Rafael Ramos.

To Republican lawmakers who won big in this fall’s elections. May you govern with grace and wisdom and magnanimity not always present in Washington.

To Democrat lawmakers who lost big in this fall’s elections. May you demonstrate humility in your new status as the minority party and resist the universal temptation to obstruct.

To the nine Justices of the U.S. Supreme Court faced with almost impossible demands to interpret the law. May you rule with courage, justice and equity on the crucial cases before you.

To President Obama and his family, living in the harsh glare that plagues every president and family. May your Christmas be a time of family joy.

To the grieving parents of the children across the world who have been slaughtered, kidnapped, raped, murdered and starved. Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

To our troops home and abroad who protect and defend our nation against enemies wily and desperate. May you be peacekeepers in a violent world.

To families victimized by gun violence in the past 12 months. May you find the determination to advocate for stricter and saner regulation of guns within the context of the 2nd Amendment to the Constitution.

To those who lead congregations through bewildering – and in some places – dangerous times. May you find God’s strength to continue as shepherds of your flock.

To those who languish in prison forgotten, abandoned, and often sentenced too harshly. May you find God’s love and protection during and after incarceration.

To school teachers who face mountainous bureaucratic demands, disintegrating family structures and increasingly overcrowded classrooms. May your love for education increase.

To the millions of Georgians, many of them children, without health insurance and with few advocates. May you find legislators who seek the common good instead of trying to repeal the Affordable Healthcare Act.

To the faithful readers of this column, some whom I’ve angered and others whom I’ve bored. May the light from the Bethlehem star dispel any darkness in your life.

I’ve left out plenty of good candidates. Who would you add to the list? Who would you remove from my list? Which individuals or groups who need encouragement, consolation, sustenance or gratitude would you send a card this Christmas?

Creede Hinshaw, of Macon, is a retired Methodist minister.