President Obama, joined by special guest First Lady Michelle Obama, used his weekly address Friday to wish Americans a merry Christmas and happy holidays. The president urged Americans to follow Jesus Christ's teachings of charity and compassion and paid tribute to U.S. soldiers fighting to keep the country safe.
"Today, like millions of Americans and Christians around the world, our family celebrates the birth of Jesus and the values He lived in his own life. Treating one another with love and compassion. Caring for those on society's margins: the sick and the hungry, the poor and the persecuted, the stranger in need of shelter - or simply an act of kindness," Obama said in the video message posted Friday.
"That's the spirit that binds us together - not just as Christians, but as Americans of all faiths. It's what the holidays are about: coming together as one American family to celebrate our blessings and the values we hold dear."
The president also paid tribute to those "who defend those values in our country's uniform. Every day, the brave men and women of our military serve to keep us safe - and so do their families."
Michelle Obama said that as we "sing carols and open presents" and "as we win snowball fights," - which the president interrupted by saying "or lose snowball fights" - Americans should take the time to "pay tribute to those who have given our country so much."
The first lady asked Americans to go to JoiningForces.gov "to see how you can serve the troops, veterans, and military families in your community. And together, we can show them just how grateful we are for their sacrifice. That's a tradition we all can embrace - today and every day."
The Obamas are currently on their annual Christmas vacation in Hawaii, where the president was born and spent part of his childhood.
