Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful
experience.
I had cut back on nonessential obligations - extensive card writing,
endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I
found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family
moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas.
- My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an
exciting season for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing
songs for his school's "Winter Pageant."
- ! I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of
the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with
his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning
of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were
welcome to come then.
- Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise. So, the
morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in ten minutes early, found a
spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw
several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I
waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied
by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group,
one by one, rose to perform their song.
- Because the public school system! m had long stopped referring to
the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun,
commercial entertainment - songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes
and good cheer.
- So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was
slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were
all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and
bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row- center
stage - held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of
the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child
would hold up the letter C.
Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up
his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."
- The performance was go! ing smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed
her; a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M"
upside down - totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W". The
audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's
mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood
tall, proudly holding her "W".
- Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter
continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it
together.
A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that
instant, we understood - the reason we were there, why we celebrated
the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a
purpose for our festivities.
- For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and
clear:

ChristWas Love !!!


Patricia



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A Special Kind of Christmas

Carol Roach

The Christmas season is upon us once again. The stores will soon be
crowded with people frantically rushing around buying just about
everything in sight. Though the season is meant to be a celebration
of the birth of Christ, apart for the odd Christmas pageant at the
church, or a child's pageant at school, many people ignore this most
important occasion and replace it with a shopping frenzy.

It does not matter that stores are piping Christmas carols and songs
of joy through the airwaves when still allowed by law. People listen
with one ear, no longer drinking in the wonder of these songs. They
are the old standards, comforting to hear, but few give much thought
to their content and what they represent. The retailers use these
songs, and wonderland displays to hoist their profit for the year.
Many years it makes a difference between making a profit or going
into the red. Even Santa and his little elves are there for a
reason; to delight small children and fill them with wonderment, but
most importantly to get their parents to buy.

Commercialism has taken over our world during this most precious time
of the year. People are nervous and anxious, especially as the days
before the 25th of December rapidly approach. But what are they
anxious for? Is it to celebrate the birth of Christ with their
family and love ones?

For the most part, it seems they are anxious since they have not
finished their Christmas shopping. What should they get Aunt Martha
who has everything? Should they buy uncle Bob another shirt again
this year? What possible toy can they buy Suzie? She has just about
everything on the market as it. How do they overcome the problem with
Peter, their teenage son; unless his gift costs $200 and over he
doesn't want anything.

The spirit of Christmas and the season of giving have been reduced to
giving from the pocket book until it hurts. Unfortunately for many
Americans and Canadians alike, finances are at an all time low. We no
longer can keep up. I know in my family as well as many others, the
adults have elected to gift exchange with one other adult in the
family. They choose names out of a hat. It is just too expensive to
continue to buy for everyone.

Every year we complain about how hard it is to buy gifts. We rectify
the situation by choosing one name for an adult; so we cut down.
However, we still go overboard with the children. We still must get a
gift for Ruby and Frank; after all they are spending Christmas with
us. How can we open presents and leave them out? The list goes on,
but the fact remains, we still go over budget, if in fact we had a
budget at all.

Every year we talk about the olden days and how Christmas was much
better then. We remember how families truly celebrated the birth of
Christ. We remember the stockings hanging from the chimney filled
with goodies from the oven: oranges, nuts and grandma's knitted
mittens. We complain that the kids just would not accept those gifts
anymore. Furthermore, who has time to sit down and crochet or knit?
We live in a fast paced world and everything must be done quickly. So
we are reduced to buying a ready made overpriced gift.

This year, I propose that we put the love back into the word giving.
We can truly celebrate the birth of Christ by following in his
footsteps. We can celebrate humankind in a healthy inexpensive way
that will not limit the number of people we can reach out to.

I propose that we do make Christmas stockings for everyone. Instead
of filling them with expensive gadgets we truly cannot afford, we
fill them with well wishes. Each person in the household would write
something good about the person whose name appears on the stocking.
Each piece would remain secret until Christmas when the recipients
open up their gifts. These pieces must be positive and celebrate the
human spirit and individuality of the giver and the receiver.

Here are some examples:

From a child: You are the best daddy in the whole world and I love
you this much.

From a teenager: Uncle Bob, you are okay but could you just once let
me win at chess.

From a visitor to the family on Christmas Day: Terry, I have just
met you a while ago and look forward to getting to know you. What I
have remarked in our brief encounters is that you have the warmest
smile I have ever encountered. When you smile the whole room lights
up and you make every one feel so warm inside.

These messages of love will light up the festive occasion and create
good memories for years to come. These gifts are priceless and more
importantly come from the heart.

Merry Christmas one and all!





Carol Roach

winterose@...





A Native of Montreal, Quebec, Carol is a graduate of Concordia, and
McGill University. She holds a bachelor in psychology and a Masters
in counselling psychology. Carol Roach is a published writer and
newsletter editor. You can purchase her book: Picking up the Pieces:
A Woman's Journey at www.publishamerica.com, or www.amazon.com. You
can also go to your local bookstore and order it there as well.
Carol's second book: Angels Watching Over is currently looking for a
home. Stay tuned for details.



If you are interested in other stories feel free to join her
newsletter: Storytime Tapestry at: http://subs.zinester.com/98907 ,
or email her directly at winterose@... and she will be glad
to accommodate you. Carol enjoys email and responds to every inquiry.


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Hi Nancy,
I am still praying for you.
Yours In Christ, Bob
I just received the following Quotes and Words of Speculation. I
believe
that many believers would enjoy them and it would provoke the
thinking of
some non believers.
I just received the following Charles Darwin quote. I thought you
might
enjoy it.
Your Friend, Bob
( Here is a quote from Explore the Book by J. Sidlow Baxter (highly
recommend it) attributed to CharlesDarwin.
"Should a voyager chance to be on the point of shipwreck on some
unknown
coast, he will most devoutly pray that the lesson of the missionary
may
have reached thus far...")


I wonder what the liberal media would have reported
about famous Bible events?
• REVISED BIBLICAL HEADLINES
(if written by the Modern Liberal Press)
• On Red Sea Crossing:
WETLANDS TRAMPLED IN LABOR STRIKE
(Pursuing Environmentalists Killed)
• On David & Goliath:
HATE CRIME KILLS BELOVED CHAMPION
(Psychologist Questions Influence of Rock)
• On Elijah on Mt. Carmel:
FIRE SENDS RELIGIOUS RIGHT EXTREMIST INTO FRENZY
(400 Killed)
• On the Birth of Christ:
HOTELS FULL, ANIMALS LEFT HOMELESS
(Animal Rights Activists Enraged by Insensitive Couple)
• On Feeding the 5000:
PREACHER STEALS CHILD'S LUNCH
(Disciples Mystified over Behavior)
• On Healing 10 Lepers:
LOCAL DOCTOR'S PRACTICE RUINED
("Faith Healer" Causes Bankruptcy)
• On Healing of Maniac of Gadara:
MADMAN'S FRIEND CAUSES STAMPEDE
(Local Farmer's Investment Lost)
• On Old & New Testament condemnation of Homosexuality:
HOMOPHOBIA TAUGHT BY LUNATIC RIGHT-WING CONSPIRACY
(Gays/Lesbians Parade to Support Death Penalty for Apostle's
intolerance)
• On Raising Lazarus from the Dead:
FUNDAMENTALIST PREACHER RAISES A STINK
(Will Reading to be held at Martha's home)
AND WE SAID OKAY

This one will make you think.


In light of the many perversions and jokes we send to one
another for a laugh, this is a little different: This is not
intended to be a joke, it's not funny, it's intended to get you
thinking.

Billy Graham's daughter was interviewed on the Early Show
and Jane Clayson asked her "How could God let something
like this happen?" (regarding the attacks on Sept. 11).

Anne Graham gave an extremely profound and insightful
response. She said, "I believe God is deeply saddened by
this, just as we are, but for years we've been telling God to
get out of our schools, to get out of our government and to
get out of our lives.

And being the gentleman He is, I believe He has calmly
backed out. How can we expect God to give us His blessing
and His protection if we demand He leave us alone?"

In light of recent events... terrorists attack, school shootings,
etc. I think it started when Madeleine Murray O'Hare (she
was murdered, her body found recently) complained she
didn't want prayer in our schools, and we said "Okay."

Then someone said you better not read the Bible in school.
The Bible says thou shalt not kill, thou shalt not steal, and
love your neighbor as yourself. And we said "Okay."

Then Dr. Benjamin Spock said we shouldn't spank our
children when they misbehave because their little
personalities would be warped and we might damage their
self-esteem (Dr. Spock's son committed suicide). We said
an expert should know what he's talking about. And we
said "Okay."

Now we're asking ourselves why our children have no
conscience, why they don't know right from wrong, and why
it doesn't bother them to kill strangers, their classmates, and
themselves.

Probably, if we think about it long and hard enough, we can
figure it out. I think it has a great deal to do with "WE REAP
WHAT WE SOW."

Funny how simple it is for people to trash God and then
wonder why the world's going to hell. Funny how we believe
what the newspapers say, but question what the Bible says.

Funny how you can send 'jokes' through e-mail and they
spread like wildfire but when you start sending messages
regarding the Lord, people think twice about sharing.

Funny how lewd, crude, vulgar and obscene articles pass
freely through cyberspace, but public discussion of God is
suppressed in the school and workplace.

Are you laughing?

Funny how when you forward this message, you will not
send it to many on your address list because you're not sure
what they believe, or what they "WILL THINK of you" for
sending it. Funny how we can be more worried about what
other people think of us than what God thinks of us.

Pass it on if you think it has merit. If not then just discard it...
no one will know you did. But, if you discard this thought
process, don't sit back and complain about ....

What bad shape the world is in!!





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Dear Editor,

Here is my new article. I guess the title says it all. Have
a very Merry Christmas and a blessed holiday season.

Wishing you every joy,
Joe Mazzella
P.O. Box 164
Upper Glade, WV
26266

joecool@...
CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

By: Joseph J. Mazzella

The Christmas season is here again in the mountains of my home.
Everywhere you can see lights going up on buildings, houses, and
trees. Everywhere you can also see faces lighted up with smiles and
hearts lighted up with God's love. The snow is sparkling on the
ground and the eyes of young children are sparkling with joy as well.
People are buying gifts for loved ones but are also sharing the
glorious gift of the Christmas Spirit with everyone they meet. It is
a very special time of the year, and I cherish every second of it.



If I had one wish, in fact, it would be that this wonderful
Spirit of Christmas would live on in our hearts, minds, and souls all
through the year. I know that it is possible too, because I have seen
a few beautiful souls who manage to keep the love, laughter, light,
kindness, joy, and oneness with God alive inside of them everyday of
the year. For them everyday is Christmas and every moment is a
glorious sharing of the Christmas Spirit.



There is no reason too why all of us can't do the same. If there
is one thing I have learned in this life it is that every second of
every day here on Earth is either a choice we make or a choice we let
others make for us. I, for one, choose the light. I choose the love.
I choose the joy. I choose the giving, caring, helping, and sharing.
I choose the glorious oneness with God. I choose the wondrous
Christmas Spirit everyday of my life and I choose to share it with
everyone.



Leo Buscaglia once wrote that "We will have finally mastered the
meaning of Christmas when Christmas becomes a way of life." Make
Christmas your way of life. Make your spirit one with the Christmas
Spirit. Fill your heart, mind, and soul full to overflowing with
God's love and joy and then make them your Christmas presents to the
world.



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Links From LynnLynn

INSPIRE Bless This House
http://www.goodtimes2.com/bless_this_house.htm

Blessing Of A Good Friend
http://www.tarasfunpages.com/blessingsofajane.html

Christ
http://www.eakles.com/whisper05.htm


~~~

This page is very poignant and needs to be passed around...
or so I have been told :-))

And speaking from experience... I agree! *smile*

http://mjbreck.com/goingthruchemo.html

I received this writing in my email...
If you should know the author, please advise,
so that I may give credit.

Merry Christmas to All...
Janie


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Remember 9/11/01

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