My First Christmas Party-- Copyright (c) 1999 Carol Laycock --- Alberta, Canada

Grandma is ninety-eight this Christmas. In spite declining health, she
forges on with characteristic determination, hope, and wit. We thought
we might lose her last October - how many more heart attacks can her
frail body take? -- but, true to form, Grandma rallied again. "I
couldn't miss a Christmas party, now could I!" she quipped on the way
home from the hospital.

"No, Grandma," I laughed "It wouldn't be a party without you."

I remember my first Christmas party with Grandma. I was just a kid. I
remember tearing across town on my bike to visit her on the day my big
sister dropped the bomb: "There is no Santa Claus," she jeered. "Even
dummies know that!"

My grandma is not the gushy kind, never was. I fled to her that day
because I knew she would be straight with me. I knew Grandma always
told the truth, and I knew that the truth always went down a whole lot
easier when swallowed with one of her world-famous cinnamon buns.

Grandma was home, and the buns were still warm. Between bites, I told
her everything. She was ready for me.

"No Santa Claus!" she snorted. "Ridiculous! Don't believe it. That
rumour has been going around for years, and it makes me mad, plain
mad. Now, put on your coat, and let's go."

"Go? Go where, Grandma?" I asked. I hadn't even finished my second cinnamon bun.

"Where" turned out to be Kerby's General Store, the one store in town
that had a little bit of just about everything. As we walked through
its doors, Grandma handed me ten dollars. That was a bundle in those
days. 'Take this money," she said, "and buy something for someone who
needs it. I'll wait for you in the car." Then she turned and walked
out of Kerby's.

I was only eight years old. I'd often gone shopping with my mother,
but never had I shopped for anything all by myself.

The store seemed big and crowded, full of people scrambling to finish
their Christmas shopping. For a few moments I just stood there,
confused, clutching that ten-dollar bill, wondering what to buy, and
who on earth to buy it for.

I thought of everybody I knew: my family, my friends, my neighbours,
the kids at school, the people who went to my church. I was just about
thought out, when I suddenly thought of Bobbie Decker. He was a kid
with bad breath and messy hair, and he sat right behind me in Mrs.
Pollock's grade-two class.

Bobbie Decker didn't have a coat. I knew that because he never went
out for recess during the winter. His mother always wrote a note,
telling the teacher that he had a cough, but all we kids knew that
Bobbie Decker didn't have a cough, and he didn't have a coat. I
fingered the ten-dollar bill with growing excitement. I would buy
Bobbie Decker a coat.

I settled on a red corduroy one that had a hood to it. It looked real
warm, and he would like that.

"Is this a Christmas present for someone?" the lady behind the counter
asked kindly, as I laid my ten dollars down.

"Yes," I replied shyly. "It's ... for Bobbie."

The nice lady smiled at me. I didn't get any change, but she put the
coat in a bag and wished me a Merry Christmas.

That evening, Grandma helped me wrap the coat in Christmas paper and
ribbons, and write, "To Bobbie, From Santa Claus" on it-- Grandma said
that Santa always insisted on secrecy. Then she drove me over to
Bobbie Decker's house, explaining as we went that I was now and
forever officially one of Santa's helpers.

Grandma parked down the street from Bobbie's house, and she and I
crept noiselessly and hid in the bushes by his front walk Then Grandma
gave me a nudge. "All right, Santa Claus," she whispered, "get going."

I took a deep breath, dashed for his front door, threw the present
down on his step, pounded his doorbell and flew back to the safety of
the bushes and Grandma. Together we waited breathlessly in the
darkness for the front door to open. Finally it did, and there stood
Bobbie.

Forty years haven't dimmed the thrill of those moments spent
shivering, beside my grandma, in Bobbie Decker's bushes. That night, I
realized that those awful rumours about Santa Claus were just what
Grandma said they were: ridiculous. Santa was alive and well, and we
were on his team.

The Gold Slippers--- Author Unknown --- Submitted by Tammy --- Texas at Motivateus.com

It was only four days before Christmas. The spirit of the season
hadn't yet caught up with me, even though cars packed the parking lot
of our local discount store.

Inside the store, it was worse. Shopping carts and last minute
shoppers jammed the aisles. Why did I come today? I wondered.

My feet ached almost as much as my head. My list contained names of
several people who claimed they wanted nothing but I knew their
feelings would be hurt if didn't buy them anything.

Buying for someone who had everything and deploring the high cost of
items, I considered gift-buying anything but fun. Hurriedly, I filled
my shopping cart with last minute items and proceeded to the long
checkout lines. I picked the shortest but it looked as if it would
mean at least a 20 minute wait.

In front of me were two small children - a boy of about 5 and a
younger girl. The boy wore a ragged coat. Enormously large, tattered
tennis shoes jutted far out in front of his much too short jeans. He
clutched several crumpled dollar bills in his grimy hands. The girl's
clothing resembled her brother's. Her head was a matted mass of curly
hair. Reminders of an evening meal showed on her small face.

She carried a beautiful pair of shiny, gold house slippers. As the
Christmas music sounded in the store's stereo system, the girl hummed
along, off-key but happily.

When we finally approached the checkout register, the girl carefully
placed the shoes on the counter. She treated them as though they were
a treasure.

The clerk rang up the bill. "That will be $6.09," she said. The boy
laid his crumpled dollars atop the stand while he searched his
pockets. He finally came up with $3.12. "I guess we will have to put
them back, " he bravely said.

"We will come back some other time, maybe tomorrow." With that
statement, a soft sob broke from the little girl. "But Jesus would
have loved these shoes, " she cried. "Well, we'll go home and work
some more. Don't cry. We'll come back," he said.

Quickly I handed $3.00 to the cashier. These children had waited in
line for a long time. And, after all, it was Christmas. Suddenly a
pair of arms came around me and a small voice said, "Thank you lady."

"What did you mean when you said Jesus would like the shoes?" I asked.

The boy answered, "Our mommy is sick and going to heaven. Daddy said
she might go before Christmas to be with Jesus." The girl spoke, "My
Sunday school teacher said the streets in heaven are shiny gold, just
like these shoes."

"Won't mommy be beautiful walking on those streets to match these shoes?"

My eyes flooded as I looked into her tear streaked face. "Yes" I
answered, "I am sure she will."

Silently I thanked God for using these children to remind me of the
true spirit of giving." 'Tis the Season!! Remember that it's better to
give than receive.

ARE YOU WANTING TO FLY

Once there was a king who received a gift of two magnificent falcons
from Arabia. They were peregrine falcons, the most beautiful birds he
had ever seen. He gave the precious birds to his head falconer to be
trained.

Months passed and one day the head falconer informed the king that
though one of the falcons was flying majestically, soaring high in the
sky, the other bird had not moved from its branch since the day it had
arrived.

The king summoned healers and sorcerers from all the land to tend to
the falcon, but no one could make the bird fly. He presented the task
to the member of his court, but the next day, the king saw through the
palace window that the bird had still not moved from its perch. Having
tried everything else, the king thought to himself, "May be I need
someone more
familiar with the countryside to understand the nature of this
problem." So he cried out to his court, "Go and get a farmer."

In the morning, the king was thrilled to see the falcon soaring high
above the palace gardens. He said to his court, "Bring me the doer of
this miracle."

The court quickly located the farmer, who came and stood before the
king. The king asked him, "How did you make the falcon fly?"

With his head bowed, the farmer said to the king, " It was very easy,
your highness. I simply cut the branch where the bird was sitting."

We are all made to fly — to realize our incredible potential as human
beings. But instead of doing that, we sit on our branches, clinging to
the things that are familiar to us. The possibilities are endless, but
for most of us, they remain undiscovered. We conform to the familiar,
the comfortable, the mundane. So for the most part, our lives are
mediocre instead of exciting, thrilling and fulfilling.

So let us learn to destroy the branch of fear we cling to and free
ourselves to the glory of flight.

Be Good To Yourself.-Author Unknown

Be Good to yourself
Trust yourself.
You know what you want and need.

Put yourself first.
You can't be anything for anybody else unless you take care of yourself.

Let your feelings be known.
They are important.

Express your opinions.
It's good to hear yourself talk.

Value your thinking.
You do it well.

Take the time and space you need.
Even if other people are wanting something from you.

When you need something, don't talk yourself out of it.
Even if you can't have it, it's ok to need.

When you are scared, let someone know.
Isolating yourself when you're scared makes it worse.

When you feel like running away, let yourself feel the scare.
Think about what you fear will happen and decide what you need to do.

When you're angry, let yourself feel the anger.
Decide what you want to do. Just feel it, express it, or take some action.

When you're sad, think about what would be comforting.
When you're hurt, tell the person who hurt you.
Keeping it inside makes it grow.

When you have work to do and you don't want to do it,
Decide what really needs to be done and what can wait.

When you want something from someone else, ask.
You'll be okay if they say no.
Asking is being true to yourself.

When you need help, ask.
Trust people to say no if they don't want to give.
When people turn you down,
It usually has to do with them, and not with you.
Ask someone else for what you need.

When you feel alone, know there are people who want to be with you.
Fantasize what it would be like to be with each of them.
Decide if you want to make that happen.

When you feel anxious, let yourself know that in your head.
You've moved into the future to something scary
And your body has gotten up the energy for it.

Come back to the present.

When you want to say something loving to someone, go ahead.
Expressing your feeling is not a commitment.

When someone yells at you, physically support yourself
By relaxing into your chair or putting your feet firmly on the floor.
Remember to breathe.
Think about the message they are trying to get across to you.

When you're harassing yourself, stop.
You do it when you need something.
Figure out what you need and get it.

When everything seems wrong,
You are overwhelmed and need some comforting.
Ask for it.
Afterwards, you can think about what you need to do.

When you want to talk to someone new and are scared, breathe.
Don't start rehearsing, just plunge in.
If it doesn't go well, you can stop.

If you're doing something you don't like to do,
(such as smoking or overeating), Stop.
Think about what you really want.

If you're stuck and can't think clearly, talk out loud to someone.

When you can't think straight,
Stop thinking. Feel.

When you're in need of love, reach out.
There are people who love you.

When you're confused, it's usually because you think you should
Do one thing and you want to do another.
Dialogue with yourself or present both sides to a friend.

When you feel harried, slow down.
Deliberately slow your breathing, your speech, and your movements.

When you have tears, cry.
When you feel like crying and it's not a safe place to cry,
Acknowledge your pain and promise yourself a good cry later.
Keep your promise.

When everything seems gray, look for color.

If one of these rules seems wrong for you, talk about it with someone.
Then, rewrite it so it fits you.

Remember, Be Good To Yourself!

Me and God

One day I decided to quit...I quit my job, my relationship, my
Spirituality... I wanted to quit my life. I went to the woods to have
one last talk with God. God, I said. Can you give me one good reason
not to quit His answer surprised me...

Look around, He said, "Do you see the fern and the bamboo?"

Yes, I replied.

God said, "When I planted the fern and the bamboo seeds, I took very
good care of them. I gave them light. I gave them water. The fern
quickly grew from the earth. Its brilliant green covered the floor.
Yet nothing came from the bamboo seed.

But I did not quit on the bamboo. In the second year the Fern grew
more vibrant and plentiful. And again, nothing came from the bamboo
seed. But I did not quit on the bamboo.

In year three there was still nothing from the bamboo seed. But I
would not quit. In year four, again, there was nothing from the bamboo
seed. I would not quit.

Then in the fifth year a tiny sprout emerged from the earth. Compared
to the fern it was seemingly small and insignificant...But just 6
months later the bamboo rose to over 100 feet tall. It had spent the
five years growing roots.

Those roots made it strong and gave it what it needed to survive. I
would not give any of my creations a challenge it could not handle.
Did you know, my child, that all this time you have been struggling,
you have actually been growing roots. I would not quit on the bamboo.
I will never quit on you."

Don't compare yourself to others. The bamboo had a different purpose
than the fern. Yet they both make the forest beautiful. Your time will
come and you will rise high."

How high should I rise I asked.

He asked in return, "How high will the bamboo rise."
As high as it can I questioned

"Yes" He said, "give me glory by rising as high as you can."

I left the forest and bring back this story. I hope these words can
help you see that God will never give up on you. He will never give
up on you!

Lesson from the story: In life never lose hope and never give up or
quit in life and Success will come to you later in life.

Some of the Inspiring Quotes which tell not to give up in life so we
can learn something from these Quotes:

1) Never expect things to happen, struggle and make them happen.
Never expect yourself to be given a good value.. create a value of
your own.

2) If a drop of water falls in lake there is no identity. But if it
falls on a leaf of lotus, it shines like a pearl, so choose the best
place where you would shine..

3) Falling down is not defeat...defeat is when you refuse to get up...

4) Ship is always safe at shore... but it is not built for it..

5) It is great confidence in a friend to tell him your faults; greater
to tell him/her. (on the face not behind the back)

6) When you are successful your well wishers know who you are when you
are unsuccessful you know who you are well-wishers are.

The Family Motto:Dave Simmons, Dad, The Family Coach

I took my daughter, Helen (eight years old) and son, Brandon (five
years old) to the Cloverleaf Mall in Hattiesburg to do a little
shopping. As we drove up, we spotted a Peterbilt eighteen-wheeler
parked with a big sign on it that said, "Petting Zoo." The kids jumped
up in a rush and asked, "Daddy, Daddy. Can we go? Please. Please. Can
we go?"

"Sure," I said, flipping them both a quarter before walking into
Sears. They bolted away, and I felt free to take my time looking for a
scroll saw. A petting zoo consists of a portable fence erected in the
mall with about six inches of sawdust and a hundred little furry baby
animals of all kinds. Kids pay their money and stay in the enclosure
enraptured with the squirmy little critters while their moms and dads
shop.

A few minutes later, I turned around and saw Helen walking along
behind me. I was shocked to see she preferred the hardware department
to the petting zoo. Plus, I thought the children had to wait till the
parents came to pick them up. I bent down and asked what was wrong.

She looked up at me with those giant limpid brown eyes and said sadly,
"Well, Daddy, it cost fifty cents. So, I gave Brandon my quarter."
Then she said the most beautiful thing I ever heard. She repeated the
family motto. The family motto is in "Love is Action!"

She had given Brandon her quarter, and no one loves cuddly furry
creatures more than Helen. She had watched both me and my wife do and
say "Love is Action!" for years around the house. She had heard and
seen "Love is Action," and now she had incorporated it into her little
lifestyle. It had become part of her.

What do you think I did? Well, not what you might think. First, we
went back to the Petting Zoo, since Brandon was by himself. We stood
by the fence and watched Brandon go crazy petting and feeding the
animals. Helen stood with her hands and chin resting on the fence and
just watched Brandon. I had fifty cents burning a hole in my pocket; I
never offered it to Helen, and she never asked for it.

Because she knew the whole family motto. It's not "Love is Action."
It's "Love is SACRIFICIAL Action!" Love always pays a price. Love
always costs something. Love is expensive. When you love, benefits
accrue to another's account. Love is for you, not for me. Love gives;
it doesn't grab. Helen gave her quarter to Brandon and wanted to
follow through with her lesson. She knew she had to taste the
sacrifice. She wanted to experience that total family motto. Love is
sacrificial action.

The Whisper-John Trent, Ph.D.,Vice President of Today’s Family, Men of Action

Recently, I heard a touching story which illustrates the power that
words have to change a life — a power that lies right in the hands of
those reading this article. Mary had grown up knowing that she was
different from the other kids, and she hated it. She was born with a
cleft palate and had to bear the jokes and stares of cruel children
who teased her non-stop about her misshaped lip, crooked nose, and
garbled speech. With all the teasing, Mary grew up hating the fact
that she was "different". She was convinced that no one, outside her
family, could ever love her … until she entered Mrs. Leonard's class.

Mrs. Leonard had a warm smile, a round face, and shiny brown hair.
While everyone in her class liked her, Mary came to love Mrs. Leonard.
In the 1950′s, it was common for teachers to give their children an
annual hearing test. However, in Mary's case, in addition to her cleft
palate, she was barely able to hear out of one ear. Determined not to
let the other children have another "difference" to point out, she
would cheat on the test each year. The "whisper test" was given by
having a child walk to the classroom door, turn sideways, close one
ear with a finger, and then repeat something which the teacher
whispered. Mary turned her bad ear towards her teacher and pretended
to cover her good ear. She knew that teachers would often say things
like, "The sky is blue," or "What color are your shoes?" But not on
that day. Surely, God put seven words in Mrs. Leonard's mouth that
changed Mary's life forever. When the "Whisper test" came, Mary heard
the words: "I wish you were my little girl."

Father, I wish there was some way that I could communicate to you the
incredible blessing which affirming words impart to children. I wish,
too, that you could sit in my office, when I coun- sel, and hear the
terrible damage that individuals received from not hearing affirming
words–particularly affirming words from a father. While words from a
godly teacher can melt a heart, words from a father can powerfully set
the course of a life.

If affirming words were something rarely spoken in your home growing
up, let me give you some tips on words and phrases that can brighten
your own child's eyes and life.These words are easy to say to any
child who comes into your life. I'm proud of you, Way to go, Bingo …
you did it, Magnificent, I knew you could do it, What a good helper,
You're very special to me, I trust you, What a treasure, Hurray for
you, Beautiful work, You're a real trooper, Well done, That's so
creative, You make my day, You're a joy, Give me a big hug, You're
such a good listener, You figured it out, I love you, You're so
responsible, You remem- bered, You're the best, You sure tried hard,
I've got to hand it to you, I couldn't be prouder of you, You light up
my day, I'm praying for you, You're wonderful, I'm behind you, You're
so kind to your (brother/sister), You're God's special gift, I'm here
for you.