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WITandWISDOM(tm) - December 25, 2002 ISSN 1538-8794 ~~~~~~~ THOUGHTS: The secret of your future is hidden in your daily routine. - Mike Murdock Source: The Funnies, http://groups.yahoo.com/group/andychaps_the-funnies ~~~~~~~ SPECIAL THOUGHTS: Will the Christ Child Come? By Gaye Jones Willis, Juneau, Alaska mailto:Gjwillis@aol.com One Christmas we had an interesting experience that made me think deeply about the true meaning of Christmas. Halfway through December we were doing the regular evening things when there was a knock at the door. We opened it to find a small package with a beautiful ceramic lamb inside. We looked at the calendar and realized the 12 day of Christmas were beginning!! (Although the Christian world traditionally celebrates the 12 days of Christmas between Christmas and Epiphany, many Latter-day Saints have a custom of giving in secret for the 12 days before Christmas.) We waited excitedly for the next night's surprise and only then realized that the lamb was part of a nativity set. Each night we grew more excited to see what piece we would receive. Each was exquisitely beautiful. The kids kept trying to catch the givers as we slowly built the scene at the manager and began to focus on Christ's birth. On Christmas Eve, all the pieces were in place, except the baby Jesus! My twelve year old son really wanted to catch our benefactors and began to devise all kinds of ways to trap them. He ate his dinner in the mini-van watching and waiting, but no one came. Finally, we called him in to go through our family's Christmas Eve traditions. But before the kids went to bed we checked the front step--No Baby Jesus! We began to worry that Reed had scared them off. My husband teased me that maybe they dropped the Jesus and that there wouldn't be anything coming. Everyone went to bed and I put out Christmas, but before I went to bed I again checked to see if Jesus had come. In our family, the kids can open their stockings when they want to, but they have to wait to open any presents till Dad wakes up. So one by one they woke up very early and I got up to watch them. Even before the stockings were opened, we had checked to see if perhaps during the night the Baby Jesus had come. Missing that piece of the set seemed to have an odd effect. It changed my focus anyway. I knew there were presents under the tree for me and I was excited to watch the children open their gifts, but first on my mind was the feeling of waiting for the ceramic Christ Child. We had opened just about all of the presents when one of the children handed me a small package a friend had given me. This sister and I had been partners in visiting church members. I had learned over time that their family didn't have much extra for Christmas so their focus was on their five children. It sounded like she didn't get much to open, so I had always given her a small package--new dish towels, a church book--not much, but something to unwrap on Christmas. This year I was touched when she had given me this small package at church on Christmas Eve day, saying it was just a small token of her love and appreciation. As I took off the bow, I remembered my friendship with her and was filled with gratitude for knowing her and for her kindness and sacrifice in giving me a gift this year. But as the paper fell away, I began to tremble and cry. There in the small brown box was the baby Jesus. He had come! I realized that Christmas that Christ will come into our lives in ways that we don't expect. The spirit of Christ comes into our hearts as we serve one other. We had waited and watched for Him to come, expecting the dramatic "knock at the door and scurrying of feet," but He came in a small, simple package that represented service, friendship, and love. Each year as I put out this creche, I am reminded of the lessons I learned through that wonderful Christmas gift. The experience taught me that the beginning of the true spirit of Christmas comes as we open our hearts and actively focus on the Savior. I discovered we will most likely find him in the small and simple acts of love, friendship and service that we give to each other. This Christmas I want to feel again the joy of knowing that Christ is in our home. I want to focus on loving and serving. More than that, I want to open my heart to Him all year that I may be with Him one day. Source: LDSWord Submitted by James D. Wisner, Chris Johnston ~~~~~~~ THIS & THAT: MATRONLY CHRISTMAS WISH If I were ol' Santa, you know what I'd do I'd dump silly gifts that are given to you And deliver some things just inside your front door Things you have lost, but treasured before. I'd give you back all your maidenly vigor, And to go along with it, a neat tiny figure. Then restore the old color that once graced your hair Before rinses and bleaches took residence there. I'd bring back the shape with which you were gifted So things now suspended need not be uplifted. I'd draw in your tummy and smooth down your back Till you'd be a dream in those tight fitting slacks. I'd remove all your wrinkles and leave only one chin So you wouldn't spend hours rubbing grease on your skin You'd never have flashes or queer dizzy spells And you wouldn't hear noises like ringing of bells. No sore aching feet and no corns on your toes No searching for spectacles when they're right on your nose. Not a shot would you take in your arm, hip or fanny From a doctor who thinks you're a nervous old granny. You'd never have a headache, so no pills would you take And no heating pad needed since your muscles won't ache. Yes, if I were Santa, you'd never look stupid You'd be a cute little chick with the romance of Cupid I'd give a lift to your heart when those wolves start to whistle And the joys of your heart would be light as a thistle. But alas! I'm not Santa. I'm simply just me: The matronest of matrons you ever did see. I wish I could tell you all the symptoms I've got But I'm due at my doctor's for an estrogen shot. Even though we've grown older this wish is sincere Merry Christmas to you and a Happy New Year! Submitted by Kimberley, Debbie Yauch ~~~~~~~ KEEP SMILING: GINGER: How was your Christmas? JANET: Oh, it was just fine. How was yours? GINGER: Pretty good..at least this year I didn't get any useless or stupid gifts. Did you ever get a gift that you just hated? JANET: Yeah, one year I got one of those talking scales. The first thing it said to me was, "One of you has to get off!" Source: Kitty's Daily Mews, Copyright (c) 1997-2002 All rights reserved worldwide, http://www.katscratch.com/ ~~~~~~~ TRIVIA: How tall is that tower in Paris? Depends on how hot it is. The height of the 984-foot-tall Eiffel Tower varies by as much as 6 inches, depending on the temperature. Source: ArcaMax Trivia, http://www.arcamax.com |