Three suicide bombers destroyed a busy pedestrian mall in the Holy City of Jerusalem, killing several and injuring hundreds today while here in the small town of Elliot Lake bands played, children laughed with excitement as they welcomed the great man himself in the annual Santa Claus Parade. Yes, it's beginning to look a lot like Christmas ........
the season of peace on earth,
goodwill toward men.
I pray that someday we will not just say the words
but actually
live in a peaceful world.
My thanks to my dear friend Frankie, in Oklahoma, U.S.A. for sharing her.......
THOUGHTS
As I look out my window I see a very dull, cloudy sky. To me this is a sad sky. It isn't blue --- there are no fluffy white clouds with animals or people in them. The warmth of the sun isn't there --- I am alone. It is dismal. But God is always there....
I think of Christmas and how near it is. Funds are at a minimum in my household, gifts will be those made by me --- but the love will be there, sewn, strung and/or glued to each project. Dolls with fancy, crocheted dresses will sit under the tree. A decorative hat trimmed with ribbons and Daisies to hang on the wall. Thick, protective hot pads in hot and cheerful colors were crocheted to match the kitchen decors. A little string and some beads and a lovely necklace and earrings appear.
After all isn't that what Christmas is all about? Loving, giving, and the Blessings of God! Doing for others and sharing your love with them?
It has been seven years since I lost my husband but now I have met a wonderful new man. One who fills the large empty void left long ago. Someone who cares, who loves, and who shares of himself.
God has indeed blessed my Christmas this year. My children are happy and doing well. Reasonably good health is enjoyed by each of us. Yes, we have been blessed.
God bless each of you and have a very Merry Christmas!
Many thanks to Paul for sharing his poem on the Journal.
AN OBSERVATION
He stood before the headstone,
His head was lowered in prayer.
The memories flowed, as did the tears
for the souls that were buried there.
They had laughed and cried, fought and died
for beliefs that they held true,
They shed their blood, on the fields of battle,
to buy freedom for me and you.
We can make the difference,
let them not have died in vain,
Let's make a world of happiness
and not a world of pain.
When you see your neighbour in distress,
stop and lend a hand.
Forget about compensation,
Try to understand.
Only by helping others
are we able to help ourselves,
If we are to build a better world,
we must leave payback on the shelf.
When the people on this planet,
work only for the common good,
When words, looks, and gestures
are not misunderstood,
When bigotry, violence and hatred,
Once and for all does cease,
Then and only then.....
will this world rest in peace.
....Paul McPhee
Two weeks from today is Christmas.
This Christmas will be different.
This Christmas will be special.
So much to be grateful for.....
So blessed to be spending the
Christmas holidays
with
((Matthew))
((Joseph))
((David))
((Susan))
((Christine))
((Robert))
((Alexa))
((Nevada))
((Kelly))
((Dudley))
((Sara))
((Junior))
((Sage))
Tuesday, December 11, 2001
I wish for you
the three greatest blessings
this holiday season
FAITH
FAMILY
FRIENDSHIP
When we have these
we have everything in life
that truly matters.
Special
Christmas Hugs
to
Muriel & Eric
Ann & Ken
Carol & Ray
Linda & John
Eleanor & Hubert
Frankie & Jim
Rainie & Alan
Ab
Ilsa & Catharine
all my friends/relatives
and all my online angels
Saturday, December 15, 2001
Today I received from my friend, Ab, who does not believe in coincidence, a most beautiful gift. He did something for me that no one has ever done before. His gift I will treasure forever.
ALSO today I received the following story from an online friend; a story which confirms there is no such thing as coincidence; only the unfolding and fulfillment of our Higher Power's plan for our lives.
A True Christmas Story
THE TABLECLOTH
The brand new pastor and his wife, newly assigned to their first ministry, to reopen a church in suburban Brooklyn, arrived in early October excited about their opportunities. When they saw their church it was very run down and needed much work.
They set a goal to have everything done in time to have their first service on Christmas Eve.
They worked hard, repairing pews, plastering walls, painting, etc. and on December 18 were ahead of schedule and just about finished. On December 19 a terrible tempest -- a driving rainstorm hit the area and lasted for two days. On the 21st the pastor went over to the church. His heart sank when he saw that the roof had leaked causing a large area of plaster about 20 feet by 8 feet to fall off the front wall of the sanctuary just behind the pulpit, beginning about head high.
The pastor cleaned up the mess on the floor and not knowing what else to do but postpone the Christmas Eve service headed home.
On the way he noticed that a local business was having a flea market type sale for charity so he stopped in. One of the items was a beautiful handmade, ivory coloured, crocheted tablecloth with exquisite work, fine colours and a Cross embroidered right in the centre. It was just the right size to cover up the hole in the front wall. He bought it and headed back to the church.
By this time it had started to snow. An older woman running from the opposite direction was trying to catch the bus. She missed it. The pastor invited her to wait in the warm church for the next bus 45 minutes later.
She sat in a pew and paid no attention to the pastor while he got a ladder, hangers, etcetera, to put up the tablecloth as a wall tapestry. The pastor could hardly believe how beautiful it looked and it covered up the entire problem area.
Then he noticed the woman walking down the centre aisle. Her face was like a sheet.
"Pastor," she asked, "where did you get that tablecloth?"
The pastor explained. The woman asked him to check the lower right corner to see if the initials EBG were crocheted into it there. They were. These were the initials of the woman, and she had made this tablecloth 35 years before in Austria.
The woman could hardly believe it as the pastor told how he had just gotten the tablecloth. The woman explained that before the war she and her husband were well-to-do people in Austria. When the nazis came she was forced to leave. Her husband was going to follow her the next week. She was captured, sent to prison and never saw her husband or her home again.
The pastor wanted to give her the tablecloth; but she made the pastor keep it for the church. The pastor insisted on driving her home; that was the least he could do. She lived on the other side of Staten Island and was only in Brooklyn for the day for a housecleaning job.
What a wonderful service they had on Christmas Eve. The church was almost full. The music and the spirit were great.
At the end of the service the pastor and his wife greeted everyone at the door and many said that they would return.
One older man whom the pastor recognized from the neighbourhood continued to sit in one of the pews and stare. The pastor wondered why he wasn't leaving.
The man asked him where he got the tablecloth on the front wall because it was identical to one that his wife had made years ago when they lived in Austria before the war and how could there be two tablecloths so much alike?
He told the pastor how the nazis came, how he forced his wife to flee for her safety and he was supposed to follow her but he was arrested and put in a prison. He never saw his wife or his home again all the 35 years in between.
The pastor asked him if he would allow him to take him for a little ride. They drove to Staten Island and to the same house where the pastor had taken the woman three days earlier. He helped the man climb the three flights of stairs to the woman's apartment, knocked on the door and he witnessed the greatest Christmas reunion he could ever imagine.
