Thursday, January 26, 2006
TEACH THE CHILDREN
TEACH THE CHILDREN
Author Unknown
Jan 26, 2006
This is how it happened...I'd 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 from behind
the Christmas tree.
He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out.
"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 into 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 Clause 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 represents 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.
"Teach the children that the wise men bowed before the Holy BABE
and presented HIM with gold, frankincense and myrrh. We should
always give gifts in the same spirit of the wise men."
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 who
is, and I bow down to worship HIM, our LORD, our GOD."
PRAYER
"Lord Jesus, help me to earnestly seek you with humility and
confidence. Increase my faith in your promises, strengthen within me
the hope of heaven and eternal life, and set my heart on fire with
love for you and your kingdom. May I always praise and magnify your
greatness and mercy."
****************************************************************
DISCLAIMER: FoodForThought shared this message as submitted and do not
claim to own any copyright privileges on it. All the messages are
believed to be free for circulation or public domain. All messages come
in either by email in original form or copied from the internet sites.
The work was submitted to us as an item for distribution, and it was
posted solely on the basis of its quality. It's a FREE service.
****************************************************************
To subscribe/unsubscribe, tell friends about FoodForThought, share a
reflection, read past issues and feedbacks, give donation or submit a
prayer request please go to: http://www.dailyfoodforthought.org
If you have no access to the internet, use these emails:
To subscribe:
subscribe@dailyfoodforthought.org
To unsubscribe:
unsubscribe@dailyfoodforthought.org
Feel free to forward this to your friends, family and associates!
Have a nice day!
© 2005 FoodForThought
