Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace.
"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement . . .
"TEACH THE CHILDREN!" I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children!
Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. "Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."
He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."
He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we 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 the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."
He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."
He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.
Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. 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 was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."
Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL,. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.
Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship him, our LORD, our GOD."
Coming out the Woods work
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So, if you have been one of the few people that trully does not follow media and has not seen the news or read any newspapers or spoken to any one else other than your uninformed imaginary friend then you know about Tiger Woods and the situation that has been unfolding for the last couple of weeks.
Apparently he was unfaithful to his wife. Now I definitely do not condone his actions and don't have an inclination to even guess why he sis what he did. What surprises me is the after effects of his actions. I am not talking about his wife's actions. What I am talking about is the amount of women who decided to step forward and share their involment wit Tiger.
Since when did it become trendy and fashionable to share that you had an affair with someone? Since when did it become popular to sleep with a celebrity to gain some sort of status? Since when did it become the norm to air out your dirty laundry and make seem like you are a celebrity?
When the Jews brought forth Mary who was caught in the act of adultery she was ashame, humiliated, scared, afraid, embarrassed and crying. She understood the severity of her actions and the consequences that it brought. The last thing she wanted to do is public acknowledge her adultery.
What a contrast to those women who at some point decided to make their involment in this matter public. The only reason that I can think of for them to have come out of the woodwork (pun intended) was for a piece of the lime light.
It is sad to think that one's reputation is now based on who you sleep with rather than how firm you stand for morals and standards. I wonder if the consequences for their involment would have been the same as Mary, which was stoning to death, would they still be so eager to share?
I hope that Tiger gets the help that he needs and ultimately find Jesus. I also hope that those other girls realize that they are worth more than just a secret affair and ultimately fall in love with God.
Apparently he was unfaithful to his wife. Now I definitely do not condone his actions and don't have an inclination to even guess why he sis what he did. What surprises me is the after effects of his actions. I am not talking about his wife's actions. What I am talking about is the amount of women who decided to step forward and share their involment wit Tiger.
Since when did it become trendy and fashionable to share that you had an affair with someone? Since when did it become popular to sleep with a celebrity to gain some sort of status? Since when did it become the norm to air out your dirty laundry and make seem like you are a celebrity?
When the Jews brought forth Mary who was caught in the act of adultery she was ashame, humiliated, scared, afraid, embarrassed and crying. She understood the severity of her actions and the consequences that it brought. The last thing she wanted to do is public acknowledge her adultery.
What a contrast to those women who at some point decided to make their involment in this matter public. The only reason that I can think of for them to have come out of the woodwork (pun intended) was for a piece of the lime light.
It is sad to think that one's reputation is now based on who you sleep with rather than how firm you stand for morals and standards. I wonder if the consequences for their involment would have been the same as Mary, which was stoning to death, would they still be so eager to share?
I hope that Tiger gets the help that he needs and ultimately find Jesus. I also hope that those other girls realize that they are worth more than just a secret affair and ultimately fall in love with God.
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