Teach The Children & More ... :) Shangy!
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===========================
>In The Shangy News:
Imagine taking your art from the junkyard?
Maybe you'll think twice before throwing that junk away...
Turn up the sound if you like to ROCK :)
Junkyard Art
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/junkart.html
-<>-
>Our Friends Del, Casey & Mr.Wu send us a FUN reminder...
Every sixty seconds you spend being upset,
is a minute of happiness you'll never get back ....
And he invites Us to do this instead...
http://www.shangralafamilyfun.com/dance.html
---
...Thanks Del - A Nice Reminder - ANYTIME!
==================================================================
>A Language of Their Own Story Editor:
by Aliza Garofalo Joyce Schowalter
New York, USA
My 8-year-old daughter Briana and I try to visit my mother in Florida
every summer for at least a week -- even though it's hotter there than
where we live in New York. That's where we were in August of 2004.
My mom's condo has a huge pool framed with palm trees on the
Intracoastal waterway, so of course there are always a few children
splashing around in it. Briana always looks forward to making new
friends down at the pool while we are there.
The first day we were there, Briana and I walked to the pool hand in
hand. I picked a lounge chair that had a full view of the pool and sat
myself down to read a magazine and sun myself. I watched out of the
corner of my eye as Briana, an excellent swimmer, swam around by
herself.
Then at one point, I looked up and saw her gesturing to another little
girl around her age. As they played together in the pool, diving under
the water and laughing, I saw them gesturing to each other again and
again. I assumed the girl was deaf.
Soon the girl offered a bag of potato chips for Briana to share. Briana
then motioned to her to follow her to the drinking fountain. The whole
afternoon was spent with the two girls gesturing and laughing together.
Even though other families had come to the pool with children near 8
years of age, the other kids had all stayed in the shallow end. Because
Briana's new friend was also a very good swimmer, they were able to swim
together from one end of the pool to the other.
I smiled to myself that my daughter always found it so easy to make
friends, no matter where we were or what the circumstances. They played
with each other and with the girl's brother all afternoon in the hot
Florida sun.
When the sun began to set families began to leave the pool area. As we
got ready to go and Briana was drying off, I asked her if the girl was,
in fact, deaf. She replied "No," the girl was on vacation from Russia
and didn't speak any English.
The two girls played together the whole week we were there, laughing and
gesturing and making themselves understood. I was so proud of my
daughter, and thought how the world of adults might imitate their
example. Instead of letting a little thing like language keep them from
making a friend, Briana and this girl enjoyed a week together by making
up a "language" they could both understand.
=======HeroicStories=======
>-->From Inspired Buffalo:
>A FEW GOOD WORDS By: Joseph J. Mazzella
,(()). ,;;;;. __ ________ _____ ___
((_ _));'_`'_( _| __ __ __ _| _| _| __ __
() \ /)\ ) / (_|__ _|-_| _(_|(_|(_|__ _|--
((\ O(() \ O / _____(_|(_|_____________(_|_ SSt
I heard the sweetest sound today. It was sweeter than birds singing,
wind chimes tinkling, or music playing. It was so beautiful that it
instantly made my face smile, my heart sing, and my spirit soar
to Heaven. It was my littlest child saying, "I love you."
You know there is nothing like a few good words to make your
day and remake your life. Words are such a glorious gift from
God. They have the power to spread love, share joy, and create
happiness. They have the ability to lift a beaten and battered
heart up to the sky. They have the strength to help a despairing
soul in its hour of greatest need.
It is a shame then that we don't use more good words in our lives.
There is nothing like a few kind words to bring a little goodness
and delight into another's life. Mark Twain used to say that he
could go for days on a good compliment. It feels so good too
when we use our words to build others up rather than tearing
them down. It feels so wonderful to share a few honest words
of praise. If feels so fantastic to let another person know that
they are loved, admired, and cared for.
If you truly want to change your life for the better then make
two lists of words. On the first put all the negative words you
hear all the time like: hate, hurt, no, can't, pain, destroy, and
those I won't even mention here. On the second list put every
positive word you can think of like: joy, love, light, delight,
peace, happiness, goodness, kindness, fantastic, wonderful, good, great,
glorious, and don't forget yes. Then throw away the first list and
always use the second. You will be amazed at the miracle that
will take place. You will be in awe of the joy, love, peace, and
happiness that will flow into your life. You will be filled with
wonder at how God, yourself, and a few good words brought Heaven to
Earth.
-<>-
>CHRISTMAS EVE
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The embers glowed softly, and in their dim light,
I gazed round the room and I cherished the sight.
My wife was asleep, her head on my chest,
My daughter beside me, angelic in rest.
Outside the snow fell, a blanket of white,
Transforming the yard to a winter delight.
The sparkling lights in the tree, I believe,
Completed the magic that was Christmas Eve.
My eyelids were heavy, my breathing was deep,
Secure and surrounded by love I would sleep.
In perfect contentment, or so it would seem,
So I slumbered, perhaps I started to dream.
The sound wasn't loud, and it wasn't too near,
But I opened my eyes when it tickled my ear.
Perhaps just a cough, I didn't quite know,
Then the sure sound of footsteps outside in the snow.
My soul gave a tremble, I struggled to hear,
And I crept to the door just to see who was near.
Standing out in the cold and the dark of the night,
A lone figure stood, his face weary and tight.
A soldier, I puzzled, some twenty years old,
Perhaps a Marine, huddled here in the cold.
Alone in the dark, he looked up and smiled,
Standing watch over me, and my wife and my child.
"What are you doing?" I asked without fear,
"Come in this moment, it's freezing out here!"
"Put down your pack, brush the snow from you sleeve,
You should be at home on a cold Christmas Eve!"
For barely a moment I saw his eyes shift,
Away from the cold and the snow blown in drifts,
To the window that danced with a warm fire's light,
The he sighed and he said, "It's really all right,
I'm out here by choice, I'm here every night."
"It's my duty to stand at the front of the line,
That separates you from the darkest of times.
No one had to ask or beg or implore me,
I'm proud to stand here like my fathers before me.
My dad stood his watch in the jungles of 'Nam,
And now it is my turn and so, Here I am.
I've not seen my own son in more than a while,
But my wife sends me pictures, he's sure got her smile."
Then he bent and he carefully pulled from his bag,
The Red, White and Blue....an American Flag.
"I can live through the cold and the being alone,
Away from my family, my house and my home.
I can stand at my post through the rain and the sleet,
I can sleep in a foxhole with little to eat.
I can carry the weight of killing another,
Or lay down my life with my sister and brother
who stand at the front against any and all,
to ensure for all time that this flag will not fall.
So go back inside," he said, "harbor no fright,
Your family is waiting and I'll be all right."
"But isn't there something I can do, at the least,
Give you money," I asked, "or prepare you a feast?"
It seems all too little for all that you've done,
For being away from you wife and your son."
Then his eyes welled a tear that held no regret,
"Just tell us you love us, and never forget
To fight for our rights back at home while we're gone.
To stand your own watch, no matter how long.
For when we come home, either standing or dead,
To know you remember we fought and we bled
is payment enough, and with that we will trust,
That we mattered to you as you mattered to us.
-<>-
>SHUFFLING PRIORITIES
__ __ __
|==| |==| |==|
__|__|__|__|__|__|_
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It happened on the evening of April 14, 1912. The Titanic, the
largest ship afloat, struck an iceberg in the treacherous waters of the
Atlantic. Four hours later she sank to the bottom.
A place on one lifeboat was reserved for a certain woman. She was
just stepping into the boat when she asked if she could run to the
ship's library to get something. She was allowed three minutes.
The woman ran through the corridors of the reeling vessel. Crossing
the saloon she caught sight of jewelry strewn around the floor.
Passengers had hurriedly cleaned out their safes and dropped
valuables as they ran. What an opportunity! Wealth was literally at
her fingertips!
But she ignored the jewelry, made her way to the library, snatched a
copy of the Bible and ran back to the waiting lifeboat.
Earlier that day it may have seemed incredible to the woman to choose
a copy of the Bible over valuable jewelry. But in the face of death,
prized valuables became relatively worthless, and what may have
seemed worthless became suddenly valuable.
Unfortunately, it often takes a catastrophe to shuffle our priorities
into a sensible order. But what a catastrophe when we never do
discover what is truly valuable.
-<>-
>Christmas Spider
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ONCE, long ago in Germany, a gentle mother was busily cleaning the
house for the most wonderful day of the year.
Not a speck of dust was left on the day when the Christ Child was to
come and bring the gifts of Christmas Eve. Even the spiders had been
banished from their cozy corner in the ceiling to avoid the
housewife's busy cleaning. They finally fled to the farthest corner
of the forgotten attic.
'Twas Christmas Eve at last! The tree was decorated and waiting for
the children to see it. But the poor spiders were frantic, for they
could not see the tree, nor be present for the Christ Child's visit.
The oldest and wisest spider suggested that perhaps they could peep
through the crack in the door to see Him.
Silently, they crept out of their attic and across the floor to wait
in the crack in the threshold.
Suddenly, the door opened a wee bit, and quickly the spiders sneaked
into the room. The tree towered so high they couldn't see the
ornaments on top. In fact, their eyes were so small they could see
only one ornament at a time. They scurried up the trunk, out along
each branch, filled with a happy wonder at the glittering beauty.
Every place they went they left a trail of dusty, gray web. When at
last they had inspected every bit of the Christmas tree, it was
shrouded in a dusty gray of spider webs.
The Christ Child smiled as He thought of the happy spiders seeing
His tree. But He knew the mother would not feel the same way and
that she would be broken hearted. So He reached out His hand and
touched the webs and blessed them. They all turned to shimmering,
sparkling silver and gold. The tree glistened in greater beauty than
ever before.
Ever since that time, we have hung tinsel on the tree, and according
to the story, it has become a custom to include a spider among the
decorations on the tree.
-<>-
>LOVE LAYS BARE
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It was a bitterly cold Christmas eve in Korea in 1952. A
pregnant young mother, Bak Yoon, hobbled through the snow toward the
home of a missionary friend where she knew she could find help.
Tears of sorrow froze on her face as she mourned her husband. He had
recently been killed in the Korean War, and she had no one else to
turn to. A short way down the road from her missionary friend's
house was a deep gully spanned by a bridge. As Bak Yoon stumbled
forward, birth pains suddenly overcame her. She fell, realizing that
she could go no further, and crawled under the end of the bridge.
There, alone, under the bridge, her baby boy was born.
Bak Yoon had nothing with her except her heavy, padded clothes.
One by one she removed all pieces of her clothing and wrapped them
around her tiny son, still connected to her body by his umbilical
cord. Then feeling exhausted she lay back in the snow beside her
baby.
The next morning Miss Watson, long-time missionary, drove
across the bridge in her car to take a Christmas basket of food to a
needy Korean family. On her way back, as she got near the bridge,
the car sputtered and died - out of gasoline.
She got out of the car and started across the bridge.
Through crunching snow under her feet she heard another sound - a
baby's faint cry. She stopped, unbelieving, and heard the cry
again. "It's coming from beneath this bridge!" She crawled under the
bridge to investigate and there she found a tiny, bundled baby, warm
but hungry, and young Bak Yoon frozen in death. With a knife from
her tool box she cut the cord and took the baby home with her. After
caring first for the child, she, along with some helpers, brought
Bak Yoon's body back to near where she lived and buried her there.
She named the baby Soo Park, and adopted him. He was strong and
healthy and so grew up among many other orphan children that Miss
Watson cared for. But to her, Soo Park was special. She often told
him, "Your mother had great love for you, Soo Park," and about how
she had proved that love. He never tired of hearing of his beautiful
mother.
On Christmas day, his 12th birthday, snow was falling. After
the children had helped Soo Park celebrate his birthday, he came and
sat beside Miss Watson.
"Mother Watson, do you think God made your car run out of
gasoline the day you found me?" he asked.
"Perhaps He did," she answered. "If that car hadn't stopped,
I would not have found you. But I am so glad it stopped. I love you
and am very proud of you, Soo Park." She put her arms around him.
He rested his head against her. "Mother Watson, will you please take
me out to my mother's grave? I want to pray there. I want to thank
her for my life."
"Yes, but put on your heavy coat. It's very cold."
Beside the grave, Soo Park asked Mother Watson to wait at a
little distance. She walked aside and waited. As the astonished
missionary watched, the boy began to take off his warm clothing,
piece by piece.
Surely he won't take off all his clothing! she thought.
He'll freeze! But the boy stripped himself of everything, laid it
all on his mother's grave, and knelt naked and shivering in the snow.
She waited one minute, two minutes. Then she put her gloved hand on
his snow covered shoulder. "Come, Soo Park. Your mother in Heaven
sees how much you love her. I will help you dress."
Then in deep sorrow he cried out to the mother he never knew: "Were
you colder than this for me, my mother?" And he wept bitterly
because he knew of course, she was.
Jesus stripped himself of his royal garments to come and live among
us. Was he that cold for us? Surely we never have to wonder if he
loves us, or even how much he loves us. He demonstrated that to us
nearly 2000 years ago. Celebrate in his love.
From "The Short Circuit," a student publication of Asbury
Theological Seminary Volume 86, Dec. 6th, 1986, No. 11
-<>-
!||
!||||
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12 PRAYERS FOR CHIRSTMAS
Christmas is a glorious time of year! God brings us face to face
once again with His design for and redemption of mankind. His
intentions toward us are for life live abundantly. His plans for the
kingdom are victorious!
But for many people, the holidays can be filled with unrealistic
expectations. Old hurts are sometimes revisited and new ones
inflicted. Hope can go deferred and result in heartsickness
(Proverbs 13:12).
In the midst of the tinsel and lights and shopping, let's remember
what the season is really about! Let's pray for a spirit of all
things Christmas for ourselves and our loved ones.
1. LOVE - Lord, help us follow the way of love - let the love of
Christ compel us
(1 Corinthians 14:1; 2 Corinthians 5:14).
2. JOY - Restore the joy of Your salvation to us; let us
experience the joy of Your presence
(Psalm 51:12; 16:11)
3. PEACE - Let Your peace rule and guard our hearts; give us more
of You - You are our peace
(Colossians 3:15; Philippians 4:7; Ephesians 2:14)
4. HOPE - Enlighten the eyes of our heart so that we may know the
hope You called us to
(Ephesians 1:18)
5. FAVOR - Let Your favor rest on us
(Luke 2:52)
6. LIFE - Shine Your light of life on us;
help us to walk in it
(Job 33:30; Psalm 56:13)
7. SALVATION - Help us to fear You so we can unlock the treasure
of Your salvation
(Isaiah 33:6)
8. SELFLESSNESS - Keep us from self-seeking attitudes that reject
truth
(Romans 2:8)
9. GENEROSITY - Make us rich in ways that result in generosity on
our part so You will be praised
(2 Corinthians 9:11)
10. RECEIVING - Help us receive Your kingdom, Your Spirit, and
Your grace
(Daniel 7:18; John 20:22; Romans 5:17)
11. SEEKING - Encourage us to seek Your face with all our hearts
(Deuteronomy 4:29; Psalm 27:8)
12. PRAISE - We ascribe glory to Your name, Lord; we come before
You in worship for You are holy
(1 Chronicles 16:28-29)
-<>-
This is the most Awesome Christmas card!
http://www.ashland.edu/ecard/
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UGLY CHRISTMAS LIGHTS
This site exists to prove that even though many people love
Christmas, not all folks have a sense of how to celebrate.
Here you will find the garish, the ugly, the weird, and the
just plain stupid. For your own sake, and the sake of your
neighbors, do not try this at home.
http://www.uglychristmaslights.com/
A WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS CARD
Click here: "The Emissary" Page 1
This is most unique Christmas card I have ever seen -- you click on
one of the lighted items and it jumps into another wonderful scene -
it goes from page 1 to page 13 and each page is better than the
previous page.....
http://www.jsmagic.net/emissarypage1/
====================================================================
>-->From SermondFodder:
V,
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>Elf Pet Peeves
18> All the tables and chairs in the cafeteria are built to Santa's
size.
17> Those 16 hour workdays in December.
16> The Movie "Elf" wasn't true to the book.
15> Effort to Unionize and join the teamsters always seems to fail
by 12 votes since Santa successfully petitioned the NLRB to allow
Reindeer to be part of the bargaining group.
14> North Pole Golf Courses have never been up to Par (If you know
what I mean).
13> Vacation days restricted to January Only and when it takes two
weeks of dog sledding to get to the nearest airport going to Florida
is out of the question..
12> Three Words: Reindeer Stall Duty
11> Having to always shop for clothes in the "Kids" section.
10> There's never a ladder around when you need one.
9> Toil for 364 days a year just to make children smile and no
one gives a rip. Meanwhile, frolic around one day in some
stupid outfit in February with a lousy bow and arrow and all of
a sudden you're a hero.
8> North Pole PPO health plan doesn't cover tattoo removal.
7> The EPA's new relaxed reindeer-emissions standards.
6> Santa dangling our co-workers from the workshop balcony
during ill-conceived publicity stunts.
5> Having to make items to drop off for those on Santa's Naughty List.
4> Icy cold North Pole temperature makes it hard to produce
quality workmanship.
3> Reindeer game #12: Elf lacrosse.
2> Constantly ridiculed for that 0-854 record in the North Pole
basketball league.
1> Jolly Ole Santa has never yet brought back a single cookie to share.
Adapted from Top 5
-<>-
>The Key By Mike Collins
Life is short. None of us can be sure when exactly we
will draw our last breath, and what is even worse is
the fact that not one of our family members will be
prepared when we have finally exhaled it.
This past Thursday my grandmother passed away. As I
write this, we have not yet attended the funeral
services, and I have not quite had a chance to grieve
on my own time or in my own way. I am writing this on
the day she died, and I am simply remembering a
wonderful relationship with one of my closest friends
in life.
She and I had a special relationship from my earliest
memories. I grew up in the same hollow where she
lived, and spent many hours a day with her. I'm not
trying to be overly reverent or make emotionally
praise-filled banter about her as many people do with
loved one's who have passed away I can honestly say
that my maw-maw was one of the best friends I ever
had.
Because both of my parents were working full-time,
many times it was only my maw-maw who came to watch me
play football in junior high. She was the same lady
who would slip money to me when no one was looking,
and then tell me not to mention where I got it. She
knew I loved her banana-nut bread; so every holiday
she made one for the family and one for me. Always
making sure that maw-maw's baby never went without,
she was always there for me financially, mentally, and
spiritually.
I'll never forget the lengths that she would go in
order to keep me out of trouble. As I mentioned
earlier, my mother and father worked, and when I would
come home from school I had to use my own key to get
into our house. I couldn't tell you how many keys I
had lost during those years. My father would have
killed me if he had known that I had lost just one,
much less tons of keys to his house. So I would walk
up the hollow to maw-maw's house and we would go have
a new one made. She had a key to our house, and we
would get a copy made from it, then, she would give me
her key because it looked worn, and she would keep the
new one to immediately put it through a wearing
process for the next time I would lose it.
She was my biggest fan, my loudest cheerleader, and
my greatest supporter. She always believed in me, even
when I did not believe in myself. She stood with me
when it seemed no one else would. She always told me
that she knew God had special things in store for my
life, and she always told me, "Jesus will never leave
you, and He will never forsake you, He will always
love you, and Maw-maw will always love you too."
In his book entitled Miracles, C.S. Lewis wrote, "On
the one hand Death is the triumph of Satan, the
punishment of the Fall, and the last enemy. Christ
shed tears at the grave of Lazarus and sweated blood
in Gethsemane: the Life of Lives that was in Him
detested this penal obscenity not less than we do, but
more. On the other hand, only he who loses his life
will save it. We are baptized into the death of
Christ, and it is the remedy for the Fall. Death is,
in fact, what some modern people call 'ambivalent.' It
is Satan's great weapon and also God's great weapon:
it is holy and unholy; our supreme disgrace and our
only hope; the thing Christ came to conquer, and the
means by which He conquered."
As I sit here thinking about the banana-nut bread
that I will never taste again, I realize that my
maw-maw has helped ensure that I retain a more
important Key, a Key that will allow me to gain access
to my Heavenly Father's house: Jesus Christ.
I miss you maw-maw, but I will see you again someday
because I am hanging on dearly to my Key.
Mike Collins is a syndicated columnist, broadcaster
and author of Christian related material. If you would like to
sign up for the FREE weekly inspirational email column
simply send an email message to:
mikecollins-subscribe@myinjesus.com You may also
visit www.mikecollins.biz to read previous articles.
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=============================================================
>-->From AndyChaps:
"A Purpose"
We all have some kind of purpose on this earth,
It's not to hurt people or tell them their worth.
Everyone was put here with an equal chance,
Take a look around you, take a good long glance.
Some were meant to heal, and some to teach,
Some are used to build, and some to reach.
You may not know your purpose just yet,
God will tell you, when he knows you are set.
Don't rush your fate, it has already been planned.
And God will always be there to lend a helping hand.
You will go through times that are really rough,
But you will always have someone, when the going gets tough.
Don't judge others, for when you do,
There is always someone else, judging you.
Think about things before they are said,
Say your prayers before going off to bed.
Take time just to sit, and observe all things,
A flower and it's petals, or a bird and it's wings.
For when you just look at what is around,
A new aspect on life could be what you have found.
Live for today, live one day at a time.
Live for yourself, and for God, that's no crime.
For when you do all these things to make your life great,
You will find your own way to the pearly white gate.
--Author Unknown
-<>-
"Where there is hate, let me sow love;
Where there is injury, pardon;
Where there is doubt, faith;
Where there is despair, hope;
Where there is darkness, light."
-- St. Francis of Assisi (1182-1226)
Italian religious leader
-<>-
>Keep Your Fork
_
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\__(_/
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""
There was a young woman who had been diagnosed
with a terminal illness and had been given three
months to live. As she was getting her things
"in order," she contacted her priest and had him
come to her house to discuss her final arrangements.
She told him which songs she wanted sung at the
service, what scriptures she would like read and
what outfit she wanted to be buried in.
Everything was in order and the Priest was
preparing to leave when the young woman suddenly
remembered something very important to her.
"There's one more thing," she said excitedly.
"What' that?" asked the Priest. "This is very
important," the young woman continued.
"I want to be buried with a fork in my hand."
The Priest stood looking at the woman, not
knowing quite what to say. That surprises
you, doesn't it?" the young woman
asked. "Well, to be honest, I'm puzzled by the
request," said the Priest.
The young woman explained. "My grandmother
told me this story. I have tried to pass along
its message to those I love and those who
are in need of encouragement.
I remember that when the dishes of the main
course are being cleared, someone always
leans over and says, 'Keep your fork.'
It was always my favorite part because
I knew that something better was coming,
like velvety chocolate cake or deep dish apple pie.
Something wonderful!
So, I want people to see me there in that
casket with a fork in my hand and I want them
to wonder "What's with the fork?"
Then I want you to tell them:
"Keep your fork ..the best is yet to come."
The Priest's eyes welled up with tears of joy as
he hugged the young woman good-bye.
He knew this would be one of the last times
he would see her before her death.
But he also knew that the young
woman had a better grasp of what heaven
was about than he did.
She had a better grasp of what heaven would be
like than many people twice her age, with twice
as much experience and knowledge.
At the funeral people were walking by the young
woman's casket and they saw the cloak she
was wearing and the fork placed in her right
hand. Over and over, the Priest heard the
question, "What's with the fork?"
And over and over he smiled.
During his Eulogy, the Priest told the people of
the conversation he had with the young woman
shortly before she died. He also told them about
the fork and about what it symbolized to her. The
pastor told the people how he could not stop
thinking about the fork and told them that they
probably would not be able to stop thinking about
it either.
He was right.
So, the next time you reach down for
your fork, let it remind you, that
the best is yet to come.
====================================================
>-->From InspiringWords:
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SHARING OUR GIFTS
I spend a lot of time during the holiday season contemplating the
events of the past year and giving thanks to God for the way He has
blessed my life. I number Cathy among the greatest of those
blessings. God created her uniquely to be my mate - the other half
that makes me whole. Now, in deference to the feminists who may be
reading this, let me clarify that it's not the things Cathy does for
me that I value. I certainly appreciate everything she does. But
both of us spent some time as single parents and neither of us are
helpless when it comes holding down a job and taking care of a
household by ourselves. The only division of labor in our household
is between us and the dogs. The two of us work and the dogs don't!
No, it's not what Cathy does, but who she is that blesses each day I
share with her.
Cathy has such a joyous, child-like quality about her. It's not
dependency. She is an intelligent and capable person in her own
right. In many ways she's much stronger than me. But she hasn't let
the hard knocks of her life harden her response to the people around
her. She still responds with that child-like enthusiasm and
sincerity most of us lost in our adolescence. She senses the
feelings of others and responds to those feelings with an openness, a
vulnerability, that few of us are willing to risk. And in her
response, she gives freely of her spirit, her energy, and her heart.
She can light the darkest day with her smile and soothe the deepest
hurt with her kind and encouraging words. In some cases, when it's
been needed, Cathy's given material support. But what I think people
truly remember most about her is that she gave them the most precious
gift of all - herself. That childlike quality in her that touches
the child in them and says "I really care about you. You are
important to me." It is the quality that has enriched every day of
my life since the very first day we met. It is a daily blessing and
reminder to me of the love of the Father which she reflects.
With her Mom's illness and the other trials going on in our lives,
Cathy's been having a pretty tough time lately. She's been feeling
pretty down. But a couple of weeks ago, several of our dear friends
decided to bring over some cake and ice cream on the spare of the
moment just to celebrate Cathy's birthday. No presents, just
themselves. But it was in giving the gift of themselves that Cathy
was most deeply blessed. I still get tears in my eyes remembering
the way the darkness lifted from her face and her laughter filled our
house at their arrival. I thank God for each of them.
Even as I thank God for Cathy, our friends, and for countless other
blessings, I am painfully aware that this has been a trouble filled
year for all of us. Loved ones have been lost. Dreams have been
shattered. For many, life illusions and childhood innocence have
been lost. We are confronted by the reality of a world forever
scarred by the wound evil has inflicted, not upon the landscapes of
New York City, Washington, D. C., and Pennsylvania, but upon our
hearts. We are at war. We are forever changed. But in the midst
of it all, we can still experience the joy of the season and the
heart felt intimacy of the personal gift God wrapped in swaddling
clothes and delivered to us (and each of you) in a manger so many
years ago. In spite of all we have experienced, we can still know
real peace and comfort because of the one who gave that greatest of
gifts - Himself.
"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in
him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy
Spirit." (Romans 15:13 NIV).
That is our prayer for each of you this Christmas.
His servant and your brother, Sheltered under His wings and
overwhelmed by His love,
Steve Hall
Editor's Note: I know that some of you reading this have a problem
with the more popular practices of Christmas. Lights, trees, gifts
and Santa Claus are not a part of your Christmas celebration. I
accept and understand your position and I do not wish to offend you
in any way. As I've grown, I've learned the lessons about some of
the pagan origins of those practices myself. But they were part of
my Christmases as I was growing up and my parents didn't practice
them as part of that pagan culture. Each was presented to us in the
context of the Christ and the magnitude of the gift given to us by
God, the Father, on that first Christmas night. Santa, like the
other super-heroes of my childhood, wasn't real, but represented the
very real spirit of the season we should try to emulate. They added
to the joy and focus of the season and enriched my life as well as my
faith. And so I have shared them with my children with the same love
and intention as when my parents shared them with me. I ask your
tolerance with the articles included with this edition of "Notes"
that refer to those traditions because of the special memories they
hold for our contributors and for me. There are no doubts in any of
our hearts who is "the reason for the season."
-<>-
______
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_/_/ ._'._).'_
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'.\ / wtx
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"TEACH THE CHILDREN"
(Received from ChristianEMail - Author Unknown)
Just last Monday night I had a strange visitor. This is how it
happened. I had just finished the household chores for the night and
was preparing to go to bed when I heard a noise in the front of the
house. I opened the door of the front room, and to my surprise,
Santa Claus himself stepping out from behind the Christmas Tree. He
placed his fingers over his lips so I wouldn't cry out.
"What are you doing here..." I started to ask, but the words choked
up in my throat as I saw that he had tears in his eyes. His usual
jolly manner is gone ~ gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all
know. As I stood there in my night shirt bewildered, Santa
said, "Teach the children. Teach them the old meaning of Christmas ~
the meanings that Christmas nowadays has forgotten."
"Teach the children, the star was a heavenly sign of promise long
ages ago. God promised a Savior for the world and a sign of the
fulfillment of that promise was the great star of the East. The star
now reminds us of God's love for mankind and of God fulfilling His
promise. The countless shining stars at night ~ one for each man ~
now show the burning hope of all mankind." Santa gently laid the
star upon the fireplace mantle and drew forth from the bag a
glittering red Christmas ornament.
"Teach the children, red is the first color of Christmas. It was
first used by the faithful people to remind them of the blood which
was shed for all people by the Savior. Christ gave his life and shed
his blood that every man might have God's gift to all, eternal life.
Red is deep, intense, vivid. It is the greatest color of all. It is
the symbol of the gift of God."
As Santa was twisting and pulling another object out of his bag, I
heard the kitchen clock begin to strike twelve. I wanted to say
something, but he went right on.
"Teach the children", he said as the twisting and pulling suddenly
dislodged a small Christmas tree from the depths of the toy bag. He
placed it before the mantle and gently hung the red ornament on the
big Christmas tree. The deep green of the fir tree was perfect
background for the ornament. Here was the second color of
Christmas. "The pure color of the stately fir tree remains green all
year round," he said. "This depicts the everlasting hope of mankind.
Green is the youthful, hopeful, abundant color of nature. All the
needles point heavenward ~ symbolic of man's returning thoughts
toward heaven. The great, green tree has been man's best friend. It
has sheltered him, warmed him, made beauty for him, formed his
furniture."
Suddenly I heard a soft tinkling sound. As it grew louder, it seemed
like the sound of long ago. "Teach the children, that as the lost
sheep are found by sounds of the bell, so should it ring for men to
return to the fold; it means guidance and return; it further
signifies that all are precious in the eyes of the Lord." As the
soft sound of the bell faded into the night, Santa drew forth a
candle. He placed it on the mantle and the soft glow from its tiny
flame cast an eerie glow about the darkened room. Odd shapes in the
shadow slowly danced and weaved upon the walls. "Teach the
children," whispered Santa, "that the candle shows man's thanks for
the star of long ago. It's small light is the mirror of starlight.
At first candles were placed on the Christmas Tree ~ they were like
many glowing stars shining against the dark green. Safety now has
removed the candles from the tree and the colored lights have taken
over in the remembrance."
Santa turned the small Christmas tree lights on and picked up a gift
from under the tree. He pointed to the large bow ribbon and said, "A
bow is placed on a present to remind us of the spirit of the
brotherhood of man. We should remember that the bow is tied as men
should be tied - all of us together, with the bonds of goodwill.
Goodwill forever is the message of the bow."
Now I wondered what else Santa had in his bag. But, instead of
reaching in his bag, he slung it over his shoulder and began to reach
up on the Christmas tree. I thought he was hungry as he reached for
a candy cane, purposely placed high on the tree. He unfastened it
and reached out toward me with it. "Teach the children that the candy
cane represents the shepherds crook. The crook on the staff helps
bring back the strayed sheep to the fold. The candy cane represents
the helping hand we should show at Christmas time. The candy is the
symbol that we are our brother's keeper." Santa then paused. He
seemed to realize he should be on his way. Later would be his big
day.
As he looked about the room, a feeling of satisfaction showed in his
face. He read wonderment in my eyes and I am sure he sensed my
admiration on this night. He was his old self as he approached the
front door. The twinkle in his eye gave Santa away; I knew he wasn't
through yet. He reached into his bag and brought forth a large holly
wreath. He placed it on the fireplace and said, "Please Teach the
children the wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of love; it never
ceases, stops or ends. It is one continuous round of affection.
Please Teach the Children."
I pondered and wondered and thrilled with delight,
As I saw and viewed all those symbols that night.
I dozed as I sat in the soft candle light,
And my thoughts were of Santa and all he made right.
To give and to help, to love and to serve,
Are the best things of life, all men can deserve.
Old Santa Claus that jolly fat little elf,
Is the very best symbol of Christmas itself.
He's the sign of the gift of love and of life,
The ending of evil, the ceasing of strife.
His message to me on the pre-Christmas night,
Has opened a treasure of deepest insight.
The one thing on earth we all ought to do,
Is the teaching of children the right and the true.
-<>-
`}-' `}-'
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[(_.-'`--,__ ____/`-,.(,-`}-'_,>___\/`-, >|`---\
[(__\___\ _`-(--...(..-'_`./`-,/(--,,.( // / >
|_______/-' >`---\ / ( `{ >`---\ pb
__|___|__) / \ / \ /`--/< / \ /|
A LITTLE CHILD SHALL LEAD THEM
(Author Carol Sanborn)
"Dear Santa," said the letter that was slowly being read,
"I seem to have a lot of time to think...... while I'm in bed;
And so I thought I'd write to you, as I do every year;
I hope you're well and happy now that Christmas is so near.
It won't be very long until you'll soon be on your way
To leave the presents that will make a happy Christmas Day.
Now if you think that I was good, and goodness knows I've tried...
I have a small suggestion, though I know you must decide.
I've heard about the shortages the world is facing now......
But if we all would share a bit it might just help somehow.
So Santa, if you should be short of Christmas dolls this year,
I thought I'd say, " My last years' doll is precious and is dear;
And really since she's almost new, it has occurred to me
You really wouldn't have to leave a new one 'neath the tree.
Instead, perhaps, you just might leave a doll for Mary Dove
Who's also in the children's ward and needs a doll to love.
She says her parents told her that with all their bills to pay,
That they'd be lucky just to buy the food for Christmas Day!
So please, dear Santa, don't forget to stop for Mary too;
And then she'll have a doll or toy and she won't feel so blue.
I'm tired now, but Santa dear, I have not finished yet.
Tomorrow I'll continue so my nurse won't be upset."
But the letter, still unfinished, never reached old Santa's hand.....
The young girls' parents found it on her little bedside stand.
With dampened eyes they packed it with their daughters other things;
But somehow, this poignant letter helped soothe away death's sting.
Then just before the parents left, they stopped a nurse to say
Please give this doll to Mary Dove, from Santa.....Christmas Day!
And should there be another child that Santa might pass by
Please let us know, so we can add to Santa's short supply!
The nurse who'd seen the letter said God bless you for this
deed........
In life and death your daughter proved A LITTLE CHILD SHALL
LEAD.......
-<>-
THE TRUE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS
(Author Sharon Palmer)
I was doing some last-minute Christmas shopping in a toy store and
decided to look at Barbie dolls for my nieces. A nicely dressed
little girl was excitedly looking through the Barbie dolls as well,
with a roll of money clamped tightly in her little hand. When she
came upon a Barbie she liked, she would turn and ask her father if
she had enough money to buy it. He usually said "yes," but she would
keep looking and keep going through their ritual of "do I have
enough?" As she was looking, a little boy wandered in across the
aisle and started sorting through the Pokemon toys. He was dressed
neatly, but in clothes that were obviously rather worn, and wearing a
jacket that was probably a couple of sizes too small. He too had
money in his hand, but it looked to be no more than five dollars or
so at the most. He was with his father as well, and kept picking up
the Pokemon video toys. Each time he picked one up and looked at his
father, his father shook his head, "No."
The little girl had apparently chosen her Barbie, a beautifully
dressed, glamorous doll that would have been the envy of every little
girl on the block. However, she had stopped and was watching the
interchange between the little boy and his father. Rather dejectedly,
the boy had given up on the video games and had chosen what looked
like a book of stickers instead. He and his father then started
walking through another aisle of the store. The little girl put her
Barbie back on the shelf, and ran over to the Pokemon games. She
excitedly picked up one that was lying on top of the other toys, and
raced toward the check-out, after speaking with her father.
I picked up my purchases and got in line behind them. Then, much to
the little girl's obvious delight, the little boy and his father got
in line behind me. After the toy was paid for and bagged, the little
girl handed it back to the cashier and whispered something in her
ear. The cashier smiled and put the package under the counter. I
paid for my purchases and was rearranging things in my purse when the
little boy came up to the cashier. The cashier rang up his purchases
and then said, "Congratulations, you are my hundredth customer today,
and you win a prize!" With that, she handed the little boy the
Pokemon game, and he could only stare in disbelief. It was, he said,
exactly what he had wanted!
The little girl and her father had been standing at the doorway
during all of this, and I saw the biggest, prettiest, toothless grin
on that little girl that I have ever seen in my life. Then they
walked out the door. I followed close behind them. I heard the
father ask his daughter why she had done that. I'll never forget
what she said to him. "Daddy, didn't Nana and Pawpaw want me to buy
something that would make me happy?" He said, "Of course they did,
honey." To which the little girl replied, "Well, I just did!" With
that, she giggled and started skipping toward their car. Apparently,
she had decided on the answer to her own question of, "Do I have
enough?"
I feel very privileged to have witnessed the true spirit of Christmas
in that toy store, in the form of a little girl who understands more
about the reason for the season than most adults I know! May God
bless her and her parents, just as she blessed that little boy and me
that day!
=====================================================================
"Then pealed the bells more loud and sweet,
'God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men."
--Longfellow
The refiner is never very far from the mouth of the furnace when
His gold is in the fire.
-- Charles Spurgeon
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