FIRST CHRISTMAS
by: Ann Moore
A little child’s first ChristmasI
His parents are so anxious to have every-
thing perfect. The tree, green and
shimmering with the sparkle of lights
and silver balls and bells, is perfec
tion. The beautifully wrapped packages
peek gaily from beneath the lower bran
ches. Over the hearthj where a fire is
crackling cherrily, hangs baby’s stock
ing. Mommie and Daddy have hung their
stockings too. The entire room is full
of Christmas cheer, but is it full of
Christmas spirit? Nowhere in the room
is there a nativity scene. There is no
mention of Jesus’s birthday, only Santa
Claus. Is this child’s first Christmas
going to be truly perfect?
Will this child, small as he is, re
ceive the impression that Christmas is
all getting and no giving? Will Santa
Claus be for him a greater symbol of
Christmas than Jesus Christ? Will he
never leam that the reason we celebrate
December 25 is that it is the anniver
sary of the birth of Jesus Christ—the
world’s greatest gift? These parents,
so^eamestly trying to give all to their
child, are forgetting the most important
gift.
Every year v^e hear talk of Christmas
becoming more and more commercialized.
The merchants reap the harvest of a hol
iday season. More and more people try
to find the most elaborate gifts to give
their friends. In return, they expect
expensive presents to be given to them.
We seem to be drifting upon a sea of ex
pensive expectations and the desire to
give gifts of high monetary value.
Why is Christmas this way? Why can
we not realize that the most prized
gifts are those made or bought with
great care and a sincere desire to
please the receiver. The best gift a
mother can receive is a card or pothold-
er made by the hands, those precious
hands, of her child. A father’s most
prized gift is a birdhouse or any object
made by the awkward, clumsy, but loving
nands of his son. The best gift a child
can receive is the look of proud joy on
his parent’s face as that child gives
CHRISTMAS IS THE TIME OF YEAR
by:
• V
■/
^ - Betty Sue Bruton
.
Christmas is the season for the peal
of silver bells, the laughter of small
children, the smell of chestnuts, the
clear, crisp beauty of the snow ^read
ing its groat white blanket over all.
This IS ,'he time for all to be happy and
thankful ^or the abundant life we have,
in a free nation.
However, there is a sad side to this
also. Many people will not feel the joy,
but will only experience cold, hunger,
and lonsJiness. For these people have
nothing. Their children will receive
no bright toys or striped candy-canes or
stuffed stockings. They will fell left
out, and think of Christmas only as a-
nother day to try to live through.
We are so wrapped up in what 5^ are
going to receive, what we are going to
do Christmas day, whether our tree is
big enough. Never, well,almost narver,
do we think of what someone else might
like or what they would get any" pleasure
out of doing. We should review the mean
ing of Christmas, again and again, until
the real value unfolds before us.
Try doir_2 something extra nice. - for.-
someone this Christmas. See if you don’t
feel a pleasant sensation go through
your body v/hen their face glows with a
brightness that you feel too.
As you purchase gifcs this Christmas,
have this ihought in mind, ’’This gift is
something I would like to have, so I'll
give it t-. this person. He would like
it, too’c” Then, you will have derived
the full meaning of Christmas.
him the gift which he has lovingly fash
ioned viith his own hands. This is
Christmas spirit!
This year thousands of small children
will be experiencing their first Christ
mases. Are they going to become aware
of the true spirit or will they learn
only the ’’getting” of this special holi
day season? The answer is up to their
parents. Let us, as future parents, re
member the true spirit of Christmas so
that we may help our children leam the
deep meaning of this holy season.