Show THE LESSON OF CHRISTMAS DAY the lesson of christmas day is simple love to show how well he loved how deep he cared for humankind god willed his son should be as man and searching that life as you may you find no part of it that differs greatly from your own unless it be that he knew more of sorrow than you know unless t be that he felt more of pain his birth was lowly the common lot of man to be born lowly into this world there are some met with silken pillows extended he lived the greater portion of his life unknown to but most are laid in loving arms save those near and dear in this again he was like most men and when at last he any came into the glare it public life the few did love him and the many cursed and cast him out as is the common lot of man to day he suffered pain of body heart and soul and more than this can no man bear at last he met the general victor over life and dying went the way of thieves and murderers most men fare better in this than he did knowing but this one might leave all dark around it when snuffed out most truly say that such a life would like a candle had this been all the companion might stand but through this maze of suffering and lacks he bore such love and pity uch forgiveness such comfort and such helpfulness to those who came within the sound of his voice or the sight of his face that the one great effort of all the ages since ha been to spread the light of his short life 0 men and women let your thoughts to day dwell higher for a little space than on the glad and gay reminders of the Chnat ma tide come once again well to give and to receive for naught must come into thi day but minds us of the greatest gift even though at the fame time we think of the smallest acceptance but it is not well to let the pleasures of the day veil to our hearts and souls its blessed thought in every word he spoke this child of bethlehem grown to manhood attested god great love in every act he showed god s pity and god boundless mercy and if we here would spread the light that shines from out this life we must with all the power that lies within us seek to follow him in this to make our lives courageous to make our faith far shining to believe that though the night be dark the dawn will surely come LEIGH MITCHELL HODGES |