Re: The True Meaning of Christmas...religious

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Wow that was wonderful... Who sent it out... I'm still struggling with reading all my mail..... Who ever.... Loved it... Thank you for sending it out... it was wonderful. love ya and praying, Merry Christmas to all... Carol

The True Meaning of Christmas...religious

I"m not sure who wrote this but it was too good not to share. might know. Angie The True Meaning of ChristmasJust a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. Ijust finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go tobed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door tothe front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind theChristmas tree."What are you doing ?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throatand I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gonewas the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with asimple statement....."TEACH THE CHILDREN ! " I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated myquestion and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag frombehind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, " Teach the children ! "Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days hasforgotten. Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a fir tree andplaced it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green colorof the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting theeverlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it asymbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."He again reached into his bad and pulled out a brilliant star. "Teach thechildren that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. Godpromised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment ofhis promise."He then reached into his bag and pulled out a candle. "Teach the childrenthat the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and whenwe see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."Once again he reached into his bag and removed a wreath and placed it on thetree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature oflove. Real love never ceases, Love is one continuous round of affection."He then pulled from his bag an ornament of himself. " Teach the childrenthat I, Santa Clause, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel duringthe month of December."He then brought out a holly leaf. "Teach the children that the holly plantrepresents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by ourSavior. The red berries represents the blood shed by Him.Next he pulled from his bag a gift and said, " Teach the children that Godso loved the world that he gave his begotten son. Thanks be to God for hisunspeakable gift."Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a candy cane and hung it on thetree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherd'scrook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to theflock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."He reached in again and pulled out an angel. "Teach the children that it wasthe angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. Theangels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will towardmen."Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out abell. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound ofthe bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidanceand return."Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that thetwinkle was back in his eyes. He said "Remember, teach the children the truemeaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humbleservant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship him, our Lord, ourGod."--------------------------------------------------------------------------------"The LUPIES Store" Come check out our store...http://www.cafepress.com/thelupies"The LUPIES Web Page"http://www.itzarion.com/lupusgroup.html"The LUPIES online photo albums!" Check out what your fellow Lupies look like...http://www.picturetrail.com/gallery/view?username=lupies