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Show I like Christmas because ,ly ties and bonds can jcome closer at Christmas ltt)n at anv other time- For t ew short weeks we are more closely into the jfllly circle. Families often ipvel many miles to spend Ije holiday together. Old memories are remembered jnd enjoyed. New ones are idded for future reference. It's truly a Family Time. 'I like Christinas because die child In each of us can ojme forward unabashed. No matter what our age, we are still children at heart. How rise can you explain so many Dads having such a good time with Jr-'s new train? Or mother fussing over pretty clothes for the new doll -just as she did when she was small? ! I like Christmas because it IS a time for children. How their eyes glow with excitement, ex-citement, suspense and joy. And it's a time to learn about giving. One Christmas when our children were small, we became acquainted with an elderly man. Since his youth he had been forced to walk bent almost double. He shuffled shuf-fled slowly past our house on his way to town each day, and rested on a large stump near our sidewalk. The boys would prattle in their childish child-ish way, and he seemed to enjoy en-joy it. As Christmas drew near, we though of him alone in his board shanty, no family, no tree, no one to share the spirit of Christmas. Christ-mas. We planned a surprise a few home -baked treats, a; simple home-made gift, a small decorated tree - all delivered on the eve of Christmas. Christ-mas. Tears were in his eyes as he invited us in. He told us that no one had ever remembered re-membered him at Christmas since his childhood. We learned a lesson in sharing! We visited often after that and what an interesting and valued friend he became. He died before Christmas came again, but we still remember him with pleasure tho many years have passed. I like Christmas because it can be a time for learning learn-ing Gratitude a characteristic charac-teristic we are not born with, but must be taught. Grandma was grateful for a piece of rock candy or an orange in her stocking but today's children often expect at least half the toy section of the mail order catalog. I saw about 70 children receive gifts from Santa the other day, and I would guess that maybe five of them said 'thank you'. It's blessed to give but it's also blessed to learn to receive graciously. gracious-ly. Most of all I like Christmas Christ-mas because it reminds me that for nearly 2,000 years, Christians everywhere have remembered with joy a star blazing in the night, angel choirs, Wise Men and humble hum-ble shepherds honoring and greeting with love, the birth of a tiny baby born to be the Savior of the world. If we delve deeply enough and brush away some of the commercialism that has become be-come a part of Christmas, that simple message of hope, joy and peace can still come shining through. Have a happy holiday season sea-son and remember with me this message written in big silver letters across the front of the Kent Hanley home "Happy Birthday Jesus". That's what it's all about, isn't it? |