Readers, I wanted to share my letter to Santa this year:
Dear Santa,
I think that I’ve been pretty good this year. There were times maybe I was a little naughty, but overall, I think that I was a good boy, so I thought that I would go ahead and write you a letter.
Even though I haven’t climbed up on your lap for many years, and it has been a long time since I sent my last letter to you, I am hopeful that you will take some time to consider my requests and fulfill these Christmas wishes. There will be milk and cookies waiting along with carrots for your reindeer and a Starbucks gift card for you to take back to Mrs. Claus.
The first thing on my list is for you to bring comfort and peace to the folks in Newtown, Conn. I really feel bad for that community, and I know that you can make them feel better. As you fly by heaven, please kiss those children for us and give them one of your twinkle winks. Please comfort those parents and that grieving community and give them something good to believe in. Bless the families of those lost children and adults who are struggling to understand why bad things like this happen. Help us all to use common sense in trying to prevent something like this from ever happening again.
Next, please spray some of your magic Christmas dust on our legislators in Washington and around the country. Use the dust that will help them understand that they can accomplish more together than by working against each other. Use the dust that will help them find solutions for the nation’s problems rather than spend time protecting their own agendas and collecting power and political capital. Americans need leaders who will listen and work together for a common good. Your magical dust should include ingredients that will open up their minds and eyes to make decisions that are good for all Americans, no matter if they live in a red state or a blue state.
My next request is that you bless those in need here in Terre Haute and the Wabash Valley. Continue to inspire the folks of this area to give of their money and their time to make this community a better place in which to live and raise a family. Help those in need to meet their challenges and give them strength each day to face the world and the attitude that they need to persevere. This community is so generous, Santa, just please help those giving people to continue to help others who are not as fortunate.
And Santa, lastly, please help the world to become peaceful and make it so the people all can live in harmony. Help differences to be put aside and enable rulers of the world to understand that terrorism and war are unproductive and the future is bleak if we cannot have peace.
Santa, I know that I’m asking for a lot. I hope that all is well for you at the North Pole. I appreciate your consideration of these requests. Have a Merry Christmas.
Sincerely,
B.J. Riley,
Terre Haute, Indiana
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B.J. RILEY: Comfort, peace to Newtown, blessings for Wabash Valley
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