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<font color=red size=9>Merry Christmas to all here.
Think about all of you USWF afficionados....
Now, then, for a bit of personal stuff: It is sleeting in Houston.... This morning, NovoMira sent me a note which allowed me to listen to "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, and I replied thus:
Thank you, Novo for Emmyloo Harris' rendition of "Oh Little
Town of Bethlehem"
"The hopes and fears of all the years, are met in thee tonight."
Could it have been 2000 years ago????? It seems (to me) like it was only yesterday that your's truly, was sitting in a little noisey wooden chair, listening to my sunday school peer's memorized Bible verses, and then it was my turn..... I stood up, nervously scanning everyone sitting in their BIG noisey chairs...looking for my Mom and Dad and Grandmother so I could feel more relaxed and would not have to look into the faces of those 'strangers' And, I said:
"But the angel said to them, 'Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for ALL the people. Today, in the town of David, a Savior has been born to YOU; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in strips of cloth and lying in a manger.'"
{I hope everyone noticed that 'ALL' and 'YOU' were capitalized there.
And, I sat down......
My life has unfolded since that day, and I have traveled many roads; and, some of the roads have been detours, which have gotten me off the right track. However, today I have found my way back to that little noisey wooden chair I was sitting in sometime around 1945, and I have recited those words again...realizing that I can make the rest of my life, more of a blessing to others, and myself... just by keeping the faith.... Not a bad way to start this Christmas Eve, I'd say. For me, it was worth it, just so that my mind's eye could look into that audience, and once again see my Mom, who would have been holding my younger brother, my Dad, and Grandma sitting there together. {with tears in my eyes, I might add!)
My grandma died in 1985 at 92 years of age.
My dad died in 1989 at 76 years of age.
My mom is in her 88th year, and is one of the true lights of my life. I will pass this post onto my relatives and friends by e-mail so that they have a glimpse into what was on my heart this Christmas Eve morning, and early afternoon.
For all who read this, who, like myself, might have gotten off on detours, now and then, read these words again:
How silently, how silently,
The wondrous gift is giv'n!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heav'n.
No ear may hear His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive Him, still
The dear Christ enters in.
And now for the commercial...... No mumbo jumbo, though. Nothing to buy. No giving up your lifestyle. No need to walk the aisle or join a church. All you need to do is read that last line again, accept that salvation and understand that it is all a gift; and, there are no dues. And/or/but, if you are a church goer, but think there is something missing, then allow yourself to be that 'meek soul', also.
Merry Christmas, everyone.
ss
"If I were to try to read, much less answer, all the attacks made on me, this shop might as well be closed for any other business. I do the very best I know how - the very best I can; and I mean to keep doing so until the end." ~ Abraham Lincoln
