We were driving back to work from a lovely lunch when we passed a shopping center that’d been festively decorated for the holidays. They had signs decorated with the words “peace” and “love”, covered with doves and other such things all along the roadside.

I turned to Pace and said, “You know what my least favorite thing about this holiday is?”

Ironically, it’s also my most favorite thing.

I love the way people call for peace. I love the way we talk about loving each other, peace on earth, goodwill toward all.

So why is something so beautiful also my least favorite thing?

Because it’s for one month out of twelve.

Have you heard of the Christmas truce? (It’s a true story.) Thousands of soldiers laid down their weapons one Christmas and defied orders and refused to fight and kill each other.

Why just on Christmas? Why just on one day of the year?

Why only for one month out of twelve?

Why don’t soldiers refuse to fight all the time? They don’t like it. They don’t really want to kill anyone. They just want to be at home, doing normal jobs with their families. What if we all refused to fight?

Why can’t we have peace on earth all the time? Come on: goodwill toward mankind? Yes, please! But why just in December?

I don’t get it.

It feels hypocritical to me; all these people who would usually spit in my eye rather than help me up if I fell, calling for peace and love just because it’s the “holiday season.”

Every day is a holy day. Every day is a miracle. Every birth is special. Every moment of every hour deserves to be a peaceful, loving moment when we treat each other with good will, when we all love and respect each other.

So you know what I say?

Merry Friday to all, and to all a good day!