Thought For The Day: Wednesday 21st September 2022

Today is World Peace Day. Peace is the absence of disturbance, conflict or war. Peace is also inward concerning respect, love, kindness, wellbeing, humility and empathy. Peace involves reconciliation, making peace with enemies, and justice, treating all equally and fairly.

The 2022 theme for this day is “End racism. Build peace.” The United Nations continues to encourage us to work towards a world free of racism, racial discrimination and all prejudice and discrimination. A world where compassion and empathy overcome suspicion and hatred.

How are we spreading, and finding, outer and inner peace, to others and ourselves? Do we unite and respect or divide and disrespect?

Three quotes from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II:

“Everyone is our neighbour, no matter what their race, creed or colour.“

“For me, the life of Jesus Christ, the Prince of Peace, is an inspiration and an anchor in my life.”

“In wishing you all ‘good evening’ I feel that I am speaking to friends and companions who have shared with my sister and myself many a happy Children’s Hour. Thousands of you in this country have had to leave your homes and be separated from your fathers and mothers. My sister Margaret Rose and I feel so much for you as we know from experience what it means to be away from those we love most of all. To you, living in new surroundings, we send a message of true sympathy and at the same time we would like to thank the kind people who have welcomed you to their homes in the country…We know, everyone of us, that in the end all will be well; for God will care for us and give us victory and peace. When peace comes, remember it will be for us, the children of today, to make the world of tomorrow a better and happier place. My sister is by my side and we are both going to say goodnight to you. Come on, Margaret. Goodnight, children. Goodnight, and good luck to you all.“

(The first public speech, seen in the first picture below, of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, then Princess Elizabeth aged 14, which was a radio address to children, many of them living away from home due to war, on 13th October 1940. She is with her sister Margaret).