Letter about Christmas from Jesus

Dear Children:
It has come to my attention that many of you are upset that folks are taking my name out of the season. Maybe you've forgotten that I wasn't actually born during this time of the year and that it was some of your predecessors who decided to celebrate my birthday on what was actually a time of pagan festival ... although I do appreciate being remembered anytime.

How I personally feel about this celebration can probably be most easily understood by those of you who have been blessed with children of your own. I don't care what you call the day. If you want to celebrate my birth just GET ALONG AND LOVE ONE ANOTHER.

Now, having said that let me go on. If it bothers you that the town in which you live doesn't allow a scene depicting my birth, then just get rid of a couple of Santas and snowmen and put in a small Nativity scene on your own front lawn. If all my followers did that, there wouldn't be any need for such a scene on the town square because there would be many of them all around town.

Stop worrying about the fact that people are calling the tree a holiday tree instead of a Christmas tree. It was I who made all trees. You can remember me anytime you see any tree. Decorate a grape vine if you wish: I actually spoke of that one in a teaching, explaining who I am in relation to you and what each of our tasks were. If you have forgotten that one, look up John 15:1-8.

If you want to give me a present in remembrance of my birth here is my wish list. Choose something from it:1. Instead of writing protest letters objecting to the way my birthday is being celebrated write letters of love and hope to soldiers away from home. They are terribly afraid and lonely this time of year. I know, they tell me all the time.

2. Visit someone in a nursing home. Not just during Christmas time, but all through the year. You don't have to know them personally. They just need to know that someone cares about them.
3. Instead of writing the president complaining about the wording on the cards his staff sends out this year, why don't you write and tell him that you'll be praying for him and his family? Then follow up. It will be nice hearing from you again.
4. Instead of giving your children a lot of gifts you can't afford and they don't need, spend time with them. Tell them the story of my birth and why I came to live with you down here. Hold them in your arms and remind them that I love them.

5. Pick someone who has hurt you in the past and forgive him or her.
6. Did you know that someone in your town will attempt to take their own life this season because they feel so alone and hopeless? Since you don't know who that person is, try giving everyone you meet a warm smile; it could make the difference.
7. Instead of nitpicking about what the retailer in your town calls the holiday, be patient with the people who work there. Give them a warm smile and a kind word. Even if they aren't allowed to wish you a "Merry Christmas" that doesn't keep you from wishing them one. Then stop shopping there on Sunday. If the store didn't make so much money on that day they'd close and let their employees spend the day at home with their families8. If you really want to make a difference, support a missionary--especially one who takes my love and Good News to those who have never heard my name.
9. Here's a good one. There are individuals and whole families in your town who not only will have no "Christmas" tree, but neither will they have any presents to give or receive. If you don't know them, buy some food and a few gifts and give them to the Salvation Army or some other charity which believes in me and they will make the delivery for you.
10. Finally, if you want to make a statement about your belief in and loyalty to me, then behave like a Christian. Don't do things in secret that you wouldn't do in my presence. Let people know by your actions and words that you are one of mine.
Don't forget; I can take care of myself. Just love me and do what I have told you to do. I'll take care of all the rest. Check out the list above and get to work; time is short. I'll help you, but the ball is now in your court. And do have a most blessed Christmas with all those whom you love and remember, I LOVE YOU. Jesus

Christmas, 2011

Star light, star bright, first star I’ve seen tonight; I wish I may I wish I might, have the wish I wish tonight.  Haven’t you said that when you were a child at the first sight of a star in the night sky?  They are beautiful, twinkling, shining objects in a dark sky.  An astronomer would say stars are big, exploding balls of gas; mostly hydrogen and helium.  Not very romantic, is it?  Hollywood says stars are popular people who have major roles in movies and TV and adored by their fans. There are star-shaped cookies, stars in our eyes and stars on top of the Christmas tree.  I’ve always been fascinated by stars; the twinkling-in-the-night-sky kind.  Maybe it’s their mystery. Maybe it’s their twinkle.  Maybe it is their light.

My granddaughter, Sophi, is a bright and shining star that lights our lives.  I made many trips to Baltimore this year to visit Steve and Ji and Sophi and Beefie and always feel sad when I have to come back to Denver.  I love being with them.  I marvel at the things Sophi has learned at 5 years old, and I marvel at what I have learned from Sophi.  She has taught me some Korean; both how to speak and how to write.  She has shown me things on the piano that I didn’t know.  Of course, her Sophi-isms are amazing. 

·        Her teacher was teaching about the 5 senses and Sophi explained to her Kindergarten class how the sense of touch worked.  “My mommy and daddy told me when you touch something with your fingers, the nerve cells in your fingers follow the nerves to send a message to your brain that you have touched something…and it is instantaneous.”  Those are big words for a Kindergartener.

·        When Sophi’s teacher told her that if another boy kept hitting her, she should hit him back, Sophi told her teacher she didn’t think that was good advice.  It is wrong to hit. Sophi told me she stood up for what she thought was right.

·        I called Steve on Father’s day and he was busy printing out pictures of brains.  He said Sophi wants to write a book about brains like he did and she wanted some pictures to add.  I have a feeling she just might do that.

·        One night at dinner Sophi was discussing how much she loved her tennis lessons.  Steve and Ji asked if she were going to be like Maria Sharapova and Sophi said, “No.  I’m going to be like Sophi.” 

 Sophi passed her black belt in Tae Kwan Do this year.  One of the tests to pass requires you to do 400 kicks in succession.  If you stop, you have to start over counting with ‘1.’  She loves to read and help her daddy in his lab.  In Sophi’s words, she helps her daddy train mice in his lab so that he can create things that help people get well.  She loves to snuggle and cook with her mommy—in fact cooking is one of her favorite things.   She truly is a bright and shining star.  They will be here for Christmas.  I am so excited to see them again.

There was one bright star over 2,000 years ago that led many people to see a special child lying in a manger in Bethlehem.  That is possibly the most important star that ever shined in the night sky.  The birth of this Christmas child is as relevant to us today as it was so many years ago.  He was born so He could share God’s light and life and joy and peace with all of us.  Celebrate that birth!

As the New Year approaches, reflecting on our lives is quite normal.  As you think of your life this past year, what births do you see waiting to emerge from difficulties you may have experienced?  These difficulties are often the very circumstances that God uses to shine God’s light into our lives.  Each challenge adds to the mystery that adds to the possibilities that adds to the adventure that adds to the joy!  Anything that adds to JOY should be embraced.  Celebrate all your miracles!

I think there are still other stars from those I have mentioned.  There are those people whose shining nature spills over into the world of others and brightens a day or even a life.  These stars are reminders that a very small act of thoughtfulness may actually be as enormous and radiant as the heavens above.  Everyone needs these kinds of stars.  My wish for you this year is to have many stars to lighten and light your way. 

Be JOYFUL and star-filled this HOLIDAY season and all through the coming New Year!