    [Public Papers of the Presidents of the United States: William J. Clinton (1995, Book II)]
    [December 20, 1995]
    [Page 1916]
    [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office www.gpo.gov]

    [[Page 1916]]

    Message on the Observance of Christmas
    December 20, 1995

        Warm greetings to everyone celebrating Christmas.
        The Christmas story is dear and familiar to us all--shepherds and
    angels, Wise Men and King Herod, Mary and Joseph, and, at the heart of
    it all, a Child. This Child was born into poverty in a city too crowded
    to offer Him shelter. He was sent to a region whose people had endured
    suffering, tyranny, and exile. And yet this Child brought with Him
    riches so great that they continue to sustain the human spirit two
    thousand years later: the assurance of God's love and presence in our
    lives and the promise of salvation.
        Each year at Christmas, we celebrate these gifts with family and
    friends. We place candles in the window as a sign that there is always
    room for Christ in our homes. We put angels and stars and twinkling
    lights on the Christmas tree to remind us of the glory and mystery of
    Christ's birth. We sing the old and beloved Christmas carols to express
    the joy filling our hearts, and we share special gifts with those we
    love, just as God shared His Son with us. And, in contemplating the
    nativity scene under the tree or in a neighbor's yard, we realize that
    children hold a special place in God's heart, since He sent His only Son
    to us as a little Child.
        With this simple truth in mind, let us observe Christmas this year
    by making a solemn commitment to the children of our communities, our
    nation, and the world. Let us pledge to love and nurture them and
    promise to give them strong values and a chance to make the most of
    their God-given talents. Let us resolve that they will grow up in a
    world that is free and at peace. By cherishing the children God sends
    us, we express our love and gratitude for the one Child He sent whose
    coming offers forgiveness and hope to us all.
        Hillary and I send best wishes for a blessed and joyous Christmas
    season and every happiness in the new year.

                                                                Bill Clinton