CHRISTMAS THOUGHTS. . .

With thanks to Mr. Jack Swift, of the Mountain City, Tennessee "Tomahawk" newspaper, I would like to share this amazing understanding of Christmas. . .

Another year is almost gone and as I write this column Christmas is just a few days away. As I thought about what I would write about this week, I decided to just reflect on Christmas and what it means to me. This one will be my 70th Christmas and as I look back at Christmases past I remember the great times that we had as a family when I was young. I couldn’t wait till that day arrived. Perhaps I didn’t thoroughly understand the real meaning of Christmas then, but I knew that it was a time of giving as well as receiving.
Christmas was about the only time I received any toys but they were always welcome. Clothes and such were much less important in my young mind. Of all the toys I received, one stands out. It was a metal dump truck and since there was a dirt bank near our house, I put it to plenty of use.

While I enjoyed receiving gifts, even as a youngster I also enjoyed giving. I always tried to save enough money to give a gift to my mother and father and brother. As I grew older, I gradually became aware of the much deeper meaning of the Christmas season. Being raised to attend church, I had many opportunities to hear the minister preach about the birth of Christ and the Christian’s hope because of it.

While Christ’s birth came up in sermons periodically during the year, it was at Christmas that it was really emphasized. I was called upon to take part in a few Christmas plays at church over the years and I remember playing the old shoe cobbler one year. I believe his name was Nicholas. Anyway according to the play the old cobbler was told in a vision that Jesus Christ would pay him a visit before the night was past. If I remember right, as the play continued, three visitors who were in need interrupted him at different times and each time he would fulfill that need. Whether it was to give warmth by the roaring fire in his fireplace or to provide food, he gave of what he had. He was disappointed because at the end of the day Christ hadn’t visited his shop, or so he thought.

As the play ended, Nicholas found that each time he had been kind and considerate to each of his needy visitors, he had been ministering to Jesus. Jesus had been to his humble cobbler’s shop in the form of the three needy people. Of course it was only a Christmas play, but it pointed out that being kind and considerate to others is a prerequisite to knowing Jesus.

So, Christmas is not only a time of receiving but also of giving. Christians believe that the gift of Jesus, God’s only begotten Son, is the greatest gift of all.

Since becoming an adult, I have developed a much broader understanding of what the birth of Christ means to me. There is a song with a phrase that goes something like this: “Without Him I would be nothing.” I challenge my readers to see beyond the commercialism that has enveloped the Christmas season, and concentrate on the real meaning of Christmas.

Christmas was a joyous time of the year when I was young. It is no less a joyous time in my senior years. My wife and I enjoy receiving Christmas cards from our friends as well as the smiles and greetings we get as we travel about Johnson County. We also enjoy sending Christmas cards and giving gifts at Christmas time. We thank you for reading my column and may each of you have a glorious and joyful Christmas

“It would be a terrific innovation if you could get your mind to stretch a little further than the next wisecrack." Katherine Hepburn

Sage advice worth pondering. . .

"Stop the mindless wishing that things would be different. Rather than wasting time and emotional energy in explaining why we don't have what we want, we can start to pursue other ways to get it." Author: Greg Anderson

*** A 'hat tip' and an 'amen' to my sister, Judy, for this inspiration. ***

COUNTING DOWN THE DAYS. . . .

A new baby is on the way in our family. What a supreme joy and a reason for celebration! Any moment now, this precious little girl will expand our family and enlarge our hearts!!! What a wonderful reason to be happy.

Your prayers for her health and for Valerie, Heath, and Duncan are appreciated and welcomed!

Love you all, as always.

There's no place. . . .