英国女王伊丽莎白二世1986年圣诞英语演讲稿Everyyear,thisChristmaspartyisheldforthechildrenofthepeoplelivingintheMewsofBuckinghamPalace.Everyoneseemstobeenjoyingit.Usually,we'reluckywiththeweather,buttonightitseemsabitmorelikeatypicalEnglishwinter.ThechildrenhavebeenwaitingfortheusualbuildupofexcitementandexpectationforFatherChristmastoarrive,nodoubt,wonderingwhathe'sbroughtwithhiminhissack.Forthechildren,thepartyandthemeetingwithFatherChristmasareperhapsthemostexcitingpartoftheevening.ButIhopethatawalkthroughthestablesalsohelpstobringthetraditionalstoryaliveforthem.Ihopeitalsohelpsthemtorealisehowfortunatetheyaretohavecomfortablehomesandwarmbedstogoto,unliketheHolyFamily,whohadtosharewiththeanimalsbecausetherewasnoroomattheInn.ChristmasisafestivalforallChristians,butitisparticularlyafestivalforchildren.Asweallknow,itcommemoratesthebirthofachild,whowasborntoordinarypeople,andwhogrewupverysimplyinhisownsmallhometownandwastrainedtobeacarpenter.Hislifethusbeganinhumblesurroundings,infact,inastable,buthewastohaveaprofoundinfluenceonthecourseofhistory,andonthelivesofgenerationsofhisfollowers.Youdon'thavetoberichorpowerfulinordertochangethingsforthebetterandeachofusinourownwaycanmakeacontribution.TheinfantJesuswasfortunateinoneveryimportantrespect.Hisparentswerelovingandconsiderate.Theydidtheirutmosttoprotecthimfromharm.TheylefttheirownhomeandbecamerefugeestosavehimfromKingHerod,andtheybroughthimupaccordingtothetraditionsoftheirfaith.OnthisBirthdayfestival,whichwetrytomakeanoccasionofhappinessforourownfamilies,wemustnotforgetthosechildrenwhoarethevictimsofilltreatmentorneglect.Itisnoeasytasktocareforandbringupchildren,whateveryourcircumstances–whetheryouarefamousorquiteunknown.ButwecouldallhelpbylettingthespiritofChristmasfillourhomeswithloveandcareandbyheedingOurLord'sinjunctiontotreatothersasyouwouldlikethemtotreatyou.When,astheBiblesays,Christgrewinwisdomandunderstanding,hebeganhistaskofexplainingandteachingjustwhatitisthatGodwantsfromus.Thetwolessonsthathehadforus,whichheunderlinedineverythinghesaidanddid,arethemessagesofGod'sloveandhowessentialitisthatwe,too,shouldloveotherpeople.Therearemanyseriousandthreateningproblemsinthiscountryandintheworld,buttheywillneverbesolveduntilthereispeaceinourhomesandloveinourhearts.ThemessagewhichGodsentusbyChrist'slifeandexampleisaverysimpleone,eventhoughitseemssodifficulttoputintopractice.Toallofyou,ofeveryfaithandrace,IsendmybestwishesforatimeofpeaceandtranquilitywithyourfamiliesatthisFestivalofChristmas.AveryHappyChristmastoyouall.
