[RR] Teaching the meaning of Christmas

[FLATPANJAK]

 This Christmas our kids will see tons of lights,wreaths,trees,bells,angels 
and stars.They will see them everywhere they go. What we want is our children 
to remember the true meaning of Christmas everywhere they go....what a 
wonderful way to honor the Lord by teaching them the reason and meaning behind  
hanging a wreaths,angels,stars etc.....
 True Meaning of Christmas
   
 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 from behind the Christmas 
tree. 
  
 "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 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 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." >>

--- Begin Message --- This is very sweet, and I really liked it.

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This Christmas our kids will see tons of lights,wreaths,trees,bells,angels and stars.They will see them everywhere they go. What we want is our children to remember the true meaning of Christmas everywhere they go....what a wonderful way to honor the Lord by teaching them the reason and meaning behind  hanging a wreaths,angels,stars etc..... True Meaning of Christmas   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 from behind the Christmas tree.   "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 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 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."

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