A New Year Thought for Me… & You

Will You Believe?

The Miracle that Happened still Happens in the Heart that will Believe and Receive the Miracle of Christmas.

I Believe the Miracle of Christmas.
Will You Believe?

The Christmas Hope

The world in silence waits the day
When hope shall sing its triumph,
And sadness flee away…

Butterfly

Until the Wright Brothers did what seemed impossible, people were unable to take to the skies. How far we have flown since then! And yet, no flying machine has ever matched the beauty of a butterfly, as it colours the air of a garden with its vibrantly designed wings.

The mystery and beauty of the butterfly lies beyond its ability to fly – it is in its miraculous transformation from a lowly caterpillar. Through its example you discover that the grounded and limited can soar to great heights, the bound and lifeless can be free and vibrant, and the dull and colourless can become beautiful and inspiring. Observe a butterfly, and let it inspire you.

Prayer of the Children

This song was originally written to draw attention to the plight of children in war-torn Eastern Europe. It is equally applicable and in fact more poignant when applied also to children who are experiencing abuse, homelessness or serious illnesses such as cancer.

Though we may not be able to cause the wars abroad to cease, we can cause the wars within our hearts and homes to end.

Forgive and love others. Truly these small and simple steps can eventually cause great and powerful strides in the world.

This Christmas… can you hear the prayer of the children?

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“The Prayer of the Children”

by Kurt Bestor

Can you hear the prayer of the children
On bended knee, in the shadow of an unknown room?
Empty eyes with no more tears to cry
Turning heavenward toward the light.

Crying Jesus, help me
To see the morning light of one more day,
But if I should die before I wake,
I pray my soul to take.

Can you feel the hearts of the children
Aching for home, for something of their very own?
Reaching hands, with nothing to hold on to,
But hope for a better day, a better day.

Crying Jesus, help me
To feel the love again in my own land,
But if unknown roads lead away from home,
Give me loving arms, away from harm.

Can you hear the voice of the children
Softly pleading for silence in a shattered world?
Angry guns preach a gospel full of hate,
Blood of the innocent on their hands.

Crying Jesus, help me
To feel the sun again upon my face.
For when darkness clears I know you’re near,
Bringing peace again

Dali cujete sve djecje molitive?
(Croatian translation: Can you hear the  prayer of the children?)

Can you hear the prayer of the children?

Manic Monday

Courage

Courage is knowing the necessity of a thing.

So courage comes from facing reality.

Your strength comes from seeing the obstacle and reaching within for resolve.

Without the fear of failure your attention is not focused.

You need the danger to chastise you; to hold your interest, and to give the extra effort that completes you.

The extra effort is also you, but it needs to be stirred from reserves.

Wishful thinking is but a fool’s way of gaining courage.

Bravery in fantasy, a cloistered virtue.

Telling people how they should live their lives when your own is a mess, playing devil’s advocate without having an original idea, these are all the occupations of cowards. And sometimes fools as well.

What matter if in your fantasy you picture yourself king, benevolent dictator, hero, and victor if in reality you cower at the approach of fools and cannot stand up for yourself in easy conversation?

The difference between such fantasy and rousing your courage from slumber is comparing escaping with being alive.

Anxiety is not for paralysis but preparation.

Life is for living, not discussing endlessly.

The unanalyzed life may not be worth living, but the unlived life is surely not worth analyzing.

I am always at the beginning of discovering

something wonderful about myself.

The Hope of Christmas

Hopefully this speaks for itself.

Just Believe

The Stranger

At Christmas time there was a man
who looked so out of place,
as people who rushed about him
at a hurried sort of pace.

He stared at all the Christmas lights,
the tinsel everywhere,
The shopping centre, Santa Claus,
with children gathered near.

The Mall was packed with shoppers
who were going to and fro,
Some with smiles and some with frowns
and some too tired to go.

They rested on the benches
or they hurried on their way,
to fight the crowd for purchases
to carry home that day.

The music from a stereo
was playing loud and clear
of Santa Claus, and snow men,
and a funny-nosed reindeer.

He heard the people talk about
the good times on the way,
Of parties, fun, and food galore,
and gifts exchanged that day.

“I’d like to know what’s going on,”
the man was heard to say,
“There seems to be some sort of
celebration on the way.

“And would you tell me who this is,
all dressed in red and white?
And why are children asking him
about a special night”?

The answer came in disbelief,
“I can’t believe my ear!
I can’t believe you do not know
that Christmas time is here,

The time when Santa comes around
with gifts for girls and boys,
When they’re asleep on Christmas,
he leaves them books and toys”.

“The man you see in red and white
is Santa Claus, so sly,
The children love his joyful laugh
and twinkle in his eye.

“His gift packed sleigh is pulled
along by very small reindeer,
As he flies quickly through the air,
while darting here and there.

“The children learn of Santa
while they are still quite small.
When Christmas comes, he is the most
important one of all.”

The stranger hung his head in shame,
he closed a nail-pierced hand.
His body shook in disbelief;
he did not understand.

A shadow crossed his stricken face,
his voice was low but clear,
“After all these years, they still don’t know.”
And Jesus shed a tear.

- Author Unknown -

The secular view of Christmas has become bigger than the religious one. While I love the shopping, gifts, food, and of course SANTA CLAUS, we need to remember the true reason for the season. Christmas is a religious holiday (as so many seem to forget) and while there’s nothing wrong with the ‘fun’ stuff, it is the celebration of the birth of Christ.

Related Read: What does Christmas mean to you?