GOD'S MINUTE!

AND JESUS TOOK THE CHILDREN IN HIS ARMS, PUT HIS HANDS
ON THEM AND BLESSED THEM.
( MARK 10:16 *NIV )

Dear Charles,
As you know our Savior Jesus Christ loves little children! So
today
I will share with you a message that was sent to me last year by
one of our subscribers. I know that you will enjoy it as much as I
do.
It is titled.......

The "W" in Christmas

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 ten 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 it's bold title.

Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his classmates, adorned in
fuzzy
mittens, red sweaters, and bright snow caps 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: "CHRISTWAS LOVE" And, I believe, He still is. Amen.

With My Love & Prayers,
your servant Allen
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