Show 4 f I CHRISTMAS i 4 FOil FOR MANY Centuries the day of or of December has been observed as aa Christmas It Is II supposed to com coin the day of the 1 birth of Jesus Christ At first the day dar was observed only by Christian people in touch with the We Roman toman Catholic church It later grew into nto favor with Protestant Churches and has haa come cometo cometo to be recognized recognised as al a universal festival Today it Is le celebrated cele tole throughout the world in n pa an an lands as well aa as Christian lands land It comes noor nearer r to bei being g a universal nal holiday than an any other day observed ed by hy mankind There la it a spirit and an atmosphere about the day that Is contagious While vast nit multitudes multitudes multi multi- tudes of people may observe the day without t a any serious thought aa as to what u lies back of It there are still sUlI great multitudes to whom it has significance because it marks marka the tho day of f birth of Jesus Jesus' In Nazareth th the Gift OUt of at God clod to a oa a lost world We may not think much ot of what lies back ot of the gifts which pass pase among us UI but every nery one of ot them is related t to the Unspeakable Gift GUt Gift which sprang from the love laTe of ot God If It God had not so loved the world as aa to to give hla his only begotten besotteD Son there would be no and no Christmas gifts Uti Every token of love that passes from one person to another Is la but a reflection of ot that great love that expressed Itself in the gift gUt of God The he angels e which came over Bethlehem's m the he shepherds shep shep- herds who g gathered In the humble bumble manger In fn Bethlehem 1 m h have ve had fiad their songs re-ech re echoed re-echoed eel and the ih gift duplicated duplicated I In 1 alt all ages agel since dads d d' d Sift gift waa wan an interpretation of ot the u universal iver sal sat heart of ot mankind and and through I the centuries es a that heart heart liar baa responded re re- responded in Its I innumerable gifts I ft at yuletide It will bewell 1 t well for tor us as al as Individuals I ale als als If It We we recognize the source from which our Christmas cheer baa has sprung while we thank the loved lovedon on ones from whom we we have received Christmas gifts gUts let us not forget to thank the Heavenly Father from whom has' has come the the Gift OUt that baa has been been- the Inspiration of all gifts It was a wise man of ot old who spoke of G Godas God das as one in whom we wo live Uve and aad move and have our being There Is cause canso for ford dally daily lly gratitude to the au au- author author thor thoe of our being who showers upon up up- on onus us us dally daily blessings and who minis- minis tars tare unto us In countless ways for our comfort and our Joy it is when we contemplate what God baa has donfor for our salvation what hhas wrought for our redemption what he has given for our enrichment In in I spiritual well-being well that there Is la I awakened In inus us a adeep deep and true thankfulness when people think of their heir Christmas Christmas' obligations as aa dulea du- du lea tiro they the find them hard of fulfillment fulfill fulfill- ment meat but when the they think of ot them themas aa as a a return to gratitude to God for forbis his bis Unspeakable kable Gift Gift t they ey become a pleasure It will be us in inthe inthe inthe the midst of our Christmas festivities to o take time to reflect upon the supreme supreme supreme su su- preme Gift for it Is 19 out of the I mali reali realization i of Lot what it means that there will come not only gratitude but that Inspiration to obedience in we shall find life Ufa everlasting Tha Thanks ks b be beto to God for tor his unspeakable unspeakable unspeakable able gift |