Christmas Stories for the Heart – Compiled by Alice Gray
Warms the heart - speaks to the soul.
Wanting to feel something of Christmas, I picked up this book on my last library run, and found many touching, heart-warming stories in it. One in particular that appealed to me was The Manger Was Empty, retold by Casandra Lindell, about a missing baby Jesus from a local church’s nativity scene. After searching around the church, the pastor reported the missing baby Jesus to the congregation. All were disappointed to think someone might take baby Jesus from the nativity scene.
Later in the afternoon, the pastor took a walk around the area and saw Tommy, a small boy he knew, pulling a wagon. As he came closer he saw baby Jesus, wrapped in a blanket, lying in the wagon. The pastor made it clear to little Tommy the seriousness of taking baby Jesus. The small boy looked up,tears beginning to slide down his cheeks and said, “But Pastor, I didn’t steal Jesus. It wasn’t like that at all. It’s just that I’ve been asking Him for a red wagon as a Christmas present for a long time—and I promised Him that when I got it I’d take Him out for the first ride.”
Another story was titled Daily Gifts by Charles Swindoll. He makes a number of one line suggestions, such as: "Mend a quarrel. Express appreciation. Give a soft answer even though you feel strongly. Encourage an older person." This last one might be difficult for me to do, if it means someone older than myself. I live in a seniors complex and right now I’m the oldest person here that I know. I suppose I’ll just have to assume that everyone here is older than someone. Or maybe he means anyone who falls in a certain age category. [So you ask, where does old begin? I used to ask myself that; I don't anymore. Perhaps that too will become another blog.] Mr. Swindoll suggests maybe doing one of these gifts per day leading up to Christmas. [But why stop there?]
There are numerous other suggestions for giving gifts of yourself. Mr. Swindoll ends the list of gifts with the following:
“Let’s make Christmas one long, extended gift of ourselves to others. Unselfishly. Without announcement. Or obligation. Or reservation. Or hypocrisy. This is Christianity, isn’t it?”
Sunday, December 6, 2009
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Today's Prayer
"Lord, grant me the wisdom of a loving heart that I may say the right thing rightly."
Ah yes, saying the right thing, and saying it rightly! That's not always easy. Have you ever thought you were saying the right thing and the way another person took it, it was exactly the wrong thing? Then you tried to make clearer what you meant,and everything slid further down the slippery slope of misunderstanding. Perhaps this is one time when that saying of, "If at first you don't succeed, quit," might be appropriate, at least for the time being. Prayer before hand would have been a good idea, if you knew the conversation was coming, but perhaps you didn't know in advance. But, whether or not you prayed before an incident such as this, I'm sure it would be good to pray afterward -- in the event you get another chance to do the right thing. Blessings in all you do and say.
Ah yes, saying the right thing, and saying it rightly! That's not always easy. Have you ever thought you were saying the right thing and the way another person took it, it was exactly the wrong thing? Then you tried to make clearer what you meant,and everything slid further down the slippery slope of misunderstanding. Perhaps this is one time when that saying of, "If at first you don't succeed, quit," might be appropriate, at least for the time being. Prayer before hand would have been a good idea, if you knew the conversation was coming, but perhaps you didn't know in advance. But, whether or not you prayed before an incident such as this, I'm sure it would be good to pray afterward -- in the event you get another chance to do the right thing. Blessings in all you do and say.
Friday, November 20, 2009
A Favorite Poem
In an earlier blog I mentioned some of my favorite poems. The one I'm posting today ranks very near the top. I've been trying to find my copy of it, or a copy online. I, as usual, did not remember the writer, but my memory said the title was "The Arrow."
I searched and searched on line, but kept finding references to other poems and poets. I 'met' this poem early in life, but about 30 years ago, some friends gave me a book of poems, titled "The Home Book of Modern Verse by Burton Egbert Stevenson." I am not sure what happened to the book, but I no longer seem to have it. Today I flipped through an old notebook of mine and would you believe it! I had copied the poem "The Arrow" by Clarence Urmy, with the notation above. So, here it is. I hope you like it, at least almost as much as I do.
The Arrow by Clarence Urmy
Straight from a mighty bow this truth is driven:
"They fail, and they alone, who have not striven."
Fly far, O shaft of light! all doubt redeeming;
Rouse men from dull despair and idle dreaming.
High Heaven's evangel be, gospel God-given:
"They fail, and they alone, who have not striven."
Focus on the second and last line. If you tried to do something, but did not quite achieve your desired goal, you may be disappointed; but in trying, you did not fail.
I searched and searched on line, but kept finding references to other poems and poets. I 'met' this poem early in life, but about 30 years ago, some friends gave me a book of poems, titled "The Home Book of Modern Verse by Burton Egbert Stevenson." I am not sure what happened to the book, but I no longer seem to have it. Today I flipped through an old notebook of mine and would you believe it! I had copied the poem "The Arrow" by Clarence Urmy, with the notation above. So, here it is. I hope you like it, at least almost as much as I do.
The Arrow by Clarence Urmy
Straight from a mighty bow this truth is driven:
"They fail, and they alone, who have not striven."
Fly far, O shaft of light! all doubt redeeming;
Rouse men from dull despair and idle dreaming.
High Heaven's evangel be, gospel God-given:
"They fail, and they alone, who have not striven."
Focus on the second and last line. If you tried to do something, but did not quite achieve your desired goal, you may be disappointed; but in trying, you did not fail.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Today's Prayer
Lord, grant us sweet reasonableness in our dealings with one another; and grant that living in the brightness of Thy presence we may bring Thy sunshine into cloudy places.
Friday, October 16, 2009
In All ThingsThank God
If God brings you to it, He will bring you through it.
In happy moments, praise God.
In difficult moments, seek God.
In quiet moments, worship God.
In painful moments, trust God.
In every moment, thank God.
The above was part of a "Forward" that was sent to me not too long ago.There are Forwards, and then there are Forwards. Some are funny, some are light hearted and uplifting, some have useful information, some are distortions of fact, some are inflammatory, some should be called opinions, and some have spiritual truths. In this particular Forward I firmly believe in the affirmation of the first line. I also believe the next five lines give good advice to the Christian.
Here's to spiritual upliftment.
In happy moments, praise God.
In difficult moments, seek God.
In quiet moments, worship God.
In painful moments, trust God.
In every moment, thank God.
The above was part of a "Forward" that was sent to me not too long ago.There are Forwards, and then there are Forwards. Some are funny, some are light hearted and uplifting, some have useful information, some are distortions of fact, some are inflammatory, some should be called opinions, and some have spiritual truths. In this particular Forward I firmly believe in the affirmation of the first line. I also believe the next five lines give good advice to the Christian.
Here's to spiritual upliftment.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Personal Candle Power
"The spirit of man is the candle of the Lord." Proverbs 20:27 Let your life so shine.
How bright or dim is our candle power? Do our words and actions match-- both giving off the same brightness? Does the wick need trimmed?
Do we give off the same vibes in what we say and what we do in relation to others? How does the Bible tell us, as Christians, to behave towards others? Are we perhaps too judgmental at times? If so, how do we pray? Do we pray for those who "spitefully use us?" Towards what end should we pray: For ourselves? For others?
This is simply a "Think About It" that I pose for my reflection and yours.
How bright or dim is our candle power? Do our words and actions match-- both giving off the same brightness? Does the wick need trimmed?
Do we give off the same vibes in what we say and what we do in relation to others? How does the Bible tell us, as Christians, to behave towards others? Are we perhaps too judgmental at times? If so, how do we pray? Do we pray for those who "spitefully use us?" Towards what end should we pray: For ourselves? For others?
This is simply a "Think About It" that I pose for my reflection and yours.
Thursday, October 8, 2009
On Becoming a Parent
Two people made a significant impact on the raising of my children. One was their pediatrician. The other was a child guidance columnist.
When my life as a parent was just beginning, my confidence in being able to raise a child was pretty low on the scale, after the death of our first little girl at the age of just two months. On the plus side of actual physical care, I was fortunate to have as a pediatrician, Dr. Peter G. Danis [I was told the pronunciation sounded like donny]. I felt I knew next to nothing about child care, and I needed to know so many things.
When I asked my mother about any particular concern, she brusquely said, “Use your own common sense.” My reply was, “But, Mother, where children are concerned I have no common sense.” I had no way to relate child care to anything I had yet experienced in my young life.
But, Dr. Danis to the rescue: He had a pre-printed list, taking up an 8-1/2” x 14” page, with explicit directions as to what to do in specific situations. Then at the bottom of the page, he added, “If you still don’t know what to do; do nothing at all. Call the Doctor.” [The beginning of that sentence may have been worded a bit differently, but the rest of it sticks with me.] That page of detailed instructions to a young parent, and knowing I could reach out for more help if I needed to was a God send to me. I did develop some common sense after I learned enough to have something to base it on.
During my young adult years while raising my family, and for as long as the columns were available, there were a few columnists which I read regularly. One that I found enormously helpful in child guidance was written by Dr. Angelo Patri, educator and author. His column on advice to parents, which I no longer remember any specifically, except for one particular bit of advice. “Don’t tell a child no unless you really mean it. And once having said it, stick to it.”
Perhaps present day child guidance counselors would agree with some of Dr. Patri’s teachings and perhaps disagree with others. I have not read any of his works for many years, but it seems the basics he recommended were to deal with children with love, kindness, firmness and guidance. Think about what you wanted to teach them, or what you wanted them to do, and once having taken a stand, be consistent.
Dr. Danis saved my life in a manner of speaking when I was an apprehensive young mother, frightened that I might lose another child. I was determined to do everything I could to prevent that happening. Not that I neglected my first child, but I think every parent might feel there must have been something I could have done differently, or better, in such a situation. Learning what I could about child care was like leaving no stone unturned to have the best chance at survival.
When my life as a parent was just beginning, my confidence in being able to raise a child was pretty low on the scale, after the death of our first little girl at the age of just two months. On the plus side of actual physical care, I was fortunate to have as a pediatrician, Dr. Peter G. Danis [I was told the pronunciation sounded like donny]. I felt I knew next to nothing about child care, and I needed to know so many things.
When I asked my mother about any particular concern, she brusquely said, “Use your own common sense.” My reply was, “But, Mother, where children are concerned I have no common sense.” I had no way to relate child care to anything I had yet experienced in my young life.
But, Dr. Danis to the rescue: He had a pre-printed list, taking up an 8-1/2” x 14” page, with explicit directions as to what to do in specific situations. Then at the bottom of the page, he added, “If you still don’t know what to do; do nothing at all. Call the Doctor.” [The beginning of that sentence may have been worded a bit differently, but the rest of it sticks with me.] That page of detailed instructions to a young parent, and knowing I could reach out for more help if I needed to was a God send to me. I did develop some common sense after I learned enough to have something to base it on.
During my young adult years while raising my family, and for as long as the columns were available, there were a few columnists which I read regularly. One that I found enormously helpful in child guidance was written by Dr. Angelo Patri, educator and author. His column on advice to parents, which I no longer remember any specifically, except for one particular bit of advice. “Don’t tell a child no unless you really mean it. And once having said it, stick to it.”
Perhaps present day child guidance counselors would agree with some of Dr. Patri’s teachings and perhaps disagree with others. I have not read any of his works for many years, but it seems the basics he recommended were to deal with children with love, kindness, firmness and guidance. Think about what you wanted to teach them, or what you wanted them to do, and once having taken a stand, be consistent.
Dr. Danis saved my life in a manner of speaking when I was an apprehensive young mother, frightened that I might lose another child. I was determined to do everything I could to prevent that happening. Not that I neglected my first child, but I think every parent might feel there must have been something I could have done differently, or better, in such a situation. Learning what I could about child care was like leaving no stone unturned to have the best chance at survival.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
