"No more lives torn apart, That wars would never start And time would heal all hearts, And everyone would have a friend And right would always win, And love would never end, no This is my grown up Christmas list." -Grown-Up Christmas List (1992), Song by Amy Grant. You know when I first heard this song, along with "Where Are You Christmas?" by Faith Hill, in 2000 I think, I was touched by its timeless, and universal, message. You see by then, I was rethinking my views. On things like retribution, justice, prisoners' rights and the idea of punishment and retribution in general. I had been at least since 1996, I know. In the song a woman, now grown, talks about how she feels, all these years later. That she's not a child but her heart still can dream. And this sentiment, "No more lives torn apart" etc., is still her only lifelong wish, her grown up Christmas list. I felt that way at the time. And that is why that has been one of my favorite song ever since. I often share that tract from the song with people, online, and other places.
