American writer Hamilton Wright Mabie wrote “Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love” in 1909.

Five years later during the First World War, soldiers stationed along the Western Front stepped out of their trenches during a spontaneous Christmas truce. They sang carols, made makeshift Christmas trees and exchanged cigarettes and treats. That terrible war resumed but, for a few hours, the men on each side met each other in a celebration of humanity and love.

That’s the kind of conspiracy we can get behind.

The real gifts of the holiday season – peace, joy and love – expand exponentially each time you give them and they circle right back to you.

Here’s hoping for such a tremendous exchange of those gifts that they cascade beyond Christmas Day and spillover into the New Year.

We wish you every good gift this holiday season and a safe, healthy and happy New Year.