“Every time a hand reaches out to help another…that is Christmas”

A Christmas card message, cited in print since at least January 1992, has been printed on many images:
 
“Every time a hand reaches out to help another, that is Christmas.
Every time someone puts anger aside and strives for understanding, that is Christmas,
Every time people forget their differences and realize their love for each other, that is Christmas.
May this Christmas bring us closer to the spirit of human understanding and closer to the blessing of peace!”
 
Authorship is unknown.
     
   
3 January 1992, Char-Koosta News (Pablo, MT), “Looking backward: Off to a good start” by Rich Coulson and Barbara Coulson, pg. 8:
We tend to compartmentalize Christmas as a season, an event, something that “happens” once a year during December. But it is so much more than that. This year, we received one very thought-provoking Christmas card that strongly reinforce our already-firm belief that Christmas is not a season of the calendar, but a season of the heart. The message on the card was as follows:
 
“Every time a hand reaches out to help another . . that is Christmas.
 
Every time someone puts anger aside and strives for understanding ... that is Christmas.
 
Every time people forget their differences and realize their love for each other ...that is Christmas.”
       
Newspapers.com
9 December 1994, Mason Valley News (Yerington, NV), sec. 1, pg. 8, col. 2:
A.L.I.V.E.
A Holiday Message
Every time a hand reaches out to help
another,
That is Christmas.
Every time someone puts anger aside
and strives for understanding
That is Christmas.
Every time people forget their differ-
ences and realize their love for each
other
That is Christmas.
 
Newspapers.com
22 December 1994, Reno (NV) Gazette-Journal, “Special Children: Love does its work all year round” by Joy Meyer, pg. 8D, col. 2:
Each year at Christmas time, I receive one card with the same message:
 
“Every time a hand reaches out
to help another…..
That is Christmas.
Every time someone puts anger
aside and strives for
understanding…..
That is Christmas,
Every time people forget their
differences and realize their love
for each other…..
That is Christmas.
May this Christmas bring us
closer to the spirit of human
understanding, closer to the
blessing of peace.”
 
Google Groups: alt.fan.teen.idols
Celebrity Sightings
astra
Dec 25, 1996, 3:00:00 AM
(...)
* “Every time a hand reaches out to help another, that
#=# is Christmas. Every time someone puts anger aside and
*=#*# strives for understanding, that is Christmas. Every
#=#=#*# time people forget their differences and realize
#*#=*=#=* their love for each other, that is Christmas”.
#=#=#=#=*=#
#*#=*=#*#*#=# May we make every day Christmas, by giving from
#*#=*=#*#*#=#*# the heart, caring for others, and living in peace
 
Google Groups: rec.crafts.textiles.yarn
Seasons Greetings to all…
Marie C
Dec 27, 2002, 5:24:10 PM
(...)
Here’s something my Aunt sent in her annual Christmas letter I’d like to share:
 
Every time a hand reaches out to help another…..that is Christmas.
Every time someone puts anger aside and strives for
understanding…..that is Christmas.
Every time people forget their differences and realize their love for
eachother…that is Christmas.
 
Facebook
Stryper
December 22, 2012 at 10:41 PM ·
Every time a hand reaches out to help another, That is Christmas
Every time someone puts anger aside and strives for understanding,
That is Christmas
Every time people forget their differences and realize their love for each other,
That is Christmas
May this Christmas bring us closer to the spirit of human understanding and
closer to the blessing of peace!
Merry Christmas…...Michael
   
Mangalorean
With Theme ‘Christmas-A Season of Love & Selfless Giving’ Christmas Eve Mass celebrated at St Aloysius Institutions
By Alfie Dsouza, Team Mangalorean. -December 26, 2019
(...)
Rector Fr Dionysius Vaz Sj in his Christmas message said, ” Quoting Winston Churchill – “Christmas is a season not only of rejoicing but of reflection.” If we could condense all the truths of Christmas into only three words, these would be the words: “God with us” (Emmanuel). In the context of division, violence and hatred in our country, Gifts of time and love are surely the basic ingredients of a truly merry Christmas. Every time a hand reaches out to help another…. That is Christmas. Every time someone puts anger aside and strives for understanding… That is Christmas. Every time people forget their differences and realize their love for each other….. That is Christmas. May this Christmas bring us closer to the spirit of human understanding and closer to the blessing of peace!”
 
Twitter
Jan Kravitz 🇺🇦🌻
@jankrav
-Every time a hand reaches out
to help another…
that is Christmas.
-Every time someone puts conflict aside
and strives for understanding…
that is Christmas
-Every time people forget their differences
and realize their love for each other…
That is Christmas.
6:19 PM · Dec 14, 2020 from Glen Ellyn, IL
 
Twitter
Shalini Chopra | DIVERSIWINS
@choprashalini
Every time a hand reaches out to help another
that is Christmas.
Every time someone puts anger aside ànd strives for understanding
that is Christmas.
Every time people forget their differences and realize their love for each other that is Christmas.
M…
linkedin.com
Shalini Chopra on LinkedIn: #merrychristmas2021 #humane #loveandlight
Every time a hand reaches out to help another that is Christmas. Every time someone puts anger aside ànd strives for understanding that is Christmas. Every…
10:06 PM · Dec 24, 2021