THE "W" IN CHRISTMAS ?

THE "W" IN CHRISTMAS ?

Christmas Love

Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I had cut back on nonessential obligations-extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas. My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting season for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his school's "Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed happy with the compromise.
So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in 10 minutes early, found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by one, rose to perform their song. Because the public school system had long stopped referring to the holiday as "Christmas," I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial entertainment-songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good cheer. So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love," I was slightly taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps upon their heads. Those in the front row-center stage-held up large letters, one by one, to spell out the title of the song. As the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. Then, "H is for Happy," and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her - a small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down - totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W." The audience of 1st through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W." Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we understood the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear: "CHRIST WAS LOVE". © Candy Chand

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JUST WANTING TO THANK JENNA FOR OUR FAMILY CHRISTMAS AT 'HER' HOUSE ON THE 20th. WE LOVE AND APPRECIATE YOU SOOO MUCH.. HOPE YOU HAD A WONDERFUL TIME, I THINK EVERYONE DID! IT WAS GOOD SEEING EVERYONE! LOVE AND PRAYERS TO EACH OF YOU!! AND ALSO, WANTING TO THANK HER AND JOHN, FRANCES, CHRIS, AND JEFF FOR THE PHONE CALLS AND TEXT.. THEY MEAN SOOO MUCH! MERRY CHRISTMAS TO EACH OF YOU WITH SO MUCH LOVE AND DAILY PRAYERS FOR A WONDERFUL, HEALTHY, HAPPY NEW YEAR!

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TOMORROW WE WILL BE CELEBRATING JEFFERY DEAN'S BIRTHDAY.. WOW, HARD TO BELIEVE HE TURNED 40 YEARS OLD TODAY.. "WOW, GOD BLESS".. THANKS GOD.. there were times (5 to be exact) that I spent a week at a time in the hospital before he was born.. trying NOT TO LOOSE HIM.. (like I had the previous 3.. and then the last 2).. BUT, I AM SOOO GRATEFUL THAT GOD LET HIM LIVE AND GAVE HIM TO US ON DECEMBER 22, 1972.. HAPPY BIRTHDAY SON.. WE LOVE YOU AND WILL CELEBRATE TOMORROW WITH OUR "NORMAL BIRTHDAY LUNCH".. LOVE YA! AND THANKS NORMAN AND LEISA FOR COMING UP TOO TOMORROW AND EVERY SUNDAY.. WE LOVE YOU ALL SOO MUCH..  CHRIS HAS A BIRTHDAY COMING NEXT MONTH! LOVE YOU TOO SON

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SPECIAL PRAYERS TONIGHT FOR NATHAN AND ABIGAIL.. COMPLAINING OF A SORE THROAT FROM TIME TO TIME.. GOD BLESS, COMFORT AND HEAL PLEASE AND THANK YOU.. AND WE ARE PRAYING FOR YOU AND YOURS TONIGHT AND NIGHTLY THAT GOD WILL BLESS EACH OF YOU WITH HIS PERFECT LOVE, GRACE, GUIDANCE, FORGIVENESS, AND ALSO SPIRITUALLY, PHYSICALLY, EMOTIONALLY, MENTALLY, FINANCIALLY AND WITH LOVE AND RESPECT, OF AND FOR EACH OTHER AND BLESS YOU WITH SAFETY, HAPPINESS AND INNER PEACE.
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 PRAYING FOR MRS TERRY recovering from pneumonia... PRAYING ALWAYS FOR LITTLE EVAN, AND ALL THE CHILDREN WITH EB OR ANY OTHER DREADFUL DISEASES, AND THEIR FAMILIES...PRAYING FOR HANNA.. (EVAN'S SISTER) AND HER HEALTH ISSUES.. GOD BLESS AND HEAL THEM PLEASE AND THANK YOU.. PRAYING FOR EVERYONE WITH CANCER AND THEIR FAMILIES AND CAREGIVERS.. PRAYING FOR OUR COUNTRY THAT GOD WILL BLESS AND GUIDE OUR LEADERS TO DO WHAT HE KNOWS IS BEST AND RIGHT FOR OUR COUNTRY.. PRAYING FOR OUR SOLDIERS, THAT THEY WILL ALL

SOON BE BACK HOME SAFELY WITH JOBS TO COME HOME TO AND FOR COMFORT AND INNER PEACE FOR THEM AND THEIR FAMILIES...PRAYING FOR ALL THE "UNSPOKEN PRAYERS" FOR EACH OF YOU AND ASKING THAT YOU'LL PRAY FOR OURS TOO AND THANKING YOU FOR YOUR PRAYERS.. SPECIAL PRAYERS FOR EACH OF MY CO-WORKERS HELP US LORD TO ALL BE CLOSE, CARING AND HELPFUL TO EACH OTHER, PLEASE BE WITH THE KIDS AND HELP THEM TO CALM DOWN. SEND SOMEONE TO HELP KEEP THEM "IN LINE AND TEACH THEM SOME RESPECT".. PRAYING FOR EVERYONE LOOKING FOR JOBS, PLEASE LORD HELP THEM ALL TO FIND A DECENT JOB, SUITABLE FOR THEM... PRAYING FOR BETTY JO, TIMMY, AND KRISTIN, PRAYING THAT THEY WILL FIND INNER PEACE AND HAPPINESS!... PRAYING FOR SHARON MAE AND UPCOMING SURGERY!... PRAYING FOR HAPPINESS, REST, LOVE, AND GOOD HEALTH FOR JENNA .. PRAYING FOR CHRIS, AT HIS NEW JOB AND THAT HE WILL LIKE IT AND THEY REALLY LIKE HIM AND IT BECOME A LONG TERM 'LOCAL' JOB, AND FOR HIS TOTAL SAFETY.. PRAYING FOR JEFF THAT HE WILL HAVE HAPPINESS AT WORK, AND A GREAT BIG RAISE, AND FIND TRUE HAPPINESS IN HIS LIFE... UNSPOKEN PRAYERS FOR NORMAN J. AND HIS FAMILY... PRAYING FOR SPECIAL GUIDANCE IN MANY THINGS "UNSPOKEN" AND INNER PEACE ... AND AS USUAL AND ALWAYS, GIVING GOD THE THANKS, PRAISE, HONOR, AND GLORY IN ALL THINGS IN JESUS HOLY NAME, AMEN!