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Show A Yule Thought By PAtL BUEHNER At every Christmas season, when we again hear the story of Joseph and Mary on their journey to Bethlehem, Beth-lehem, and of their being unable to secure a room in the inn or hotel, I can't dismiss from my mind the thought of the inn-keeper's lost opportunity. Regardless of how much we may try to sympathize with the poor fellow, regardless of his difficult problem caused by unusually crowded conditions, regardless of the number of people who had to be turned away, the cold, hard fact remains that the inn-keeper had a golden opportunity within his grasp but he failed to take advantage of it. I don't know whether the innkeeper inn-keeper ever knew of the humble birth in the manger, but my guess is that if he did, he probably exclaimed,, ex-claimed,, "Oh, if I had only known!" So many heartaches could have been prevented; countless noble deeds of kindness that were left undone could have been performed; per-formed; untold tears of regret would have been shed; many nights and anxious moments could have been prevented if if I had, or we had, only known. Those words indicate lost opportunities oppor-tunities that once were easily within with-in our grasp opportunities that entirely too often we let slip from us. How many times have we had to say, "I regret that I didn't know; if I had only known you needed help; had I only known the seriousness of the situation; had I only known the burdens my brother carried." Certainly every one has missed many golden opportunities and recognized rec-ognized the importance of them after it was entirely too late. Perhaps Per-haps we all have missed opportunities opportu-nities if we would admit it. However, it does us little good now to dwell upon them, unless we use them as lessons and a warning not to let additional opportunities op-portunities slip from us. Opportunities Opportu-nities to lift up sad hearts, to say kind words of good cheer, to console con-sole some sorrowing neighbor, to dry a child's tears, to give hope, strength, determination, and assistance assist-ance to those who need it. The best time to start doing the big things that you have always planned to do is now. The best day to write those letters let-ters of appreciation, to call up a friend or neighbor to congratulate him on some good thing accomplished, accom-plished, is today. The best time to smile, to show kindness, to build good will, to make friends, to be agreeable to your fellow man, is today. The best time to start being kind to dad, husband, brother, citizen, Continued on Page 8 Keniember Christmas is the second chance for the world the hope for pence the only way. The promise that the angels sang is the most wonderful music the world has ever heard. "Peace on earth and good will toward men." There remains one way the way untried, untested, unexplored fully Uie way of Him who was born a babe in Bethlehem. YULE THOUGHT Continued from Page- I churehhman or the regular fellow you have always dreamed of being, is today. We must see to it that our actions ac-tions are honorable at all times. We must keep ourselves armed against being discourteous. We must learn to forgive and forget and always to keep alert to do noble things. We must never be too busy or too tired to be polite we must always have time to oblige. We must, never be forced to say If I had only known. It's Christmastime again. When Christmas doesn't make your heart swell up until it nearly bursts and fill your eyes with tears and makes j you all soft and warm inside, then you will know something inside of you is dead. For Christmas Eve and Christmas Christ-mas Day the world is a better place and men and women are more lovable. Christmas is not in the stores, but in the hearts of people. Let's not say that Christmas has become commercialized. It will never be unless you let it be. Let's not say Christmas is for children that shows you have never understood un-derstood Christmas for the older you get the more it means if you know what it means. Have you said, "I just can't seem to foci the Christmas spirit this year' that is too bad. You are saying that you feel no joy that Jesus came into the world. Do you feel the pressure of Christmas approaching. The traffic is terrible, you cant find parking space, the stores are crowded. You can't think of what to buy for so and so. You think of friends and loved ones who are hard to shop for which is rather strange when you lake time to think of it. Maybe there is nothing in the store they need, but what about some token of love and friendship and understanding and consideration considera-tion and a helping hand and a smile and a prayer. These are the things people need they are not available in any store. Blessed will be those who receive them this Christmas or anytime. Let's not permit the crowds and rush to push Christmas out of our hearts for that is where it belongs. |