This December, I vow to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. I will have to cut back on nonessential obligations, extensive card writing, endless baking, decorating, and even overspending.  I do not want to find myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and of course, the true meaning of Christmas. My son, [...]

The glitter of green stones drew me to the solitary display case. The light bounced off the silver and glass. Amidst the jumble of holiday shoppers, I made my way to the corner area reserved for fine jewelry and gazed upon the bracelet, noticing the unique handiwork. The beaten silver, fashioned in such a way [...]

About a week before Christmas the family bought a new nativity scene. When they unpacked it they found 2 figures of the Baby Jesus. “Someone must have packed this wrong,” the mother said, counting out the figures. “We have one Joseph, one Mary, three wise men, three shepherds, two lambs, a donkey, a cow, an [...]

It’s just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so. It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas—oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects [...]

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Pa never had much compassion for the lazy or those who squandered their means and then never had enough for the necessities.  But for those who were genuinely in need, his heart was as big as all outdoors. It was from him that I learned the greatest joy in life comes from giving, not from receiving. It [...]

About a week before Christmas the family bought a new nativity scene. When they unpacked it they found 2 figures of the Baby Jesus. “Someone must have packed this wrong,” the mother said, counting out the figures. “We have one Joseph, one Mary, three wise men, three shepherds, two lambs, a donkey, a cow, an [...]

A certain man called Mogo used to see Christmas as a feast without the least sense to it. In his mind, the night of the 24th December was the saddest of the year, because many people realized how lonely they were or remembered their dearly beloved who had died during the past year. Mogo was [...]

During the busyness of this holiday season, my one year old daughter caught a cold that wouldn’t seem to let go of her.  She had it especially rough at night when she had coughing fits.  Being a first time, nervous mom, I brought her to bed with me after a particularly bad cough. As we [...]

Expecting our second child, due to arrive Christmas Eve of 1989, had been  a delightful experience. What a Christmas present! But the moment Elizabeth was born, I felt a stab of fear. My immediate thought was, “Her head looks so small–so deformed.” Before she was twelve hours old, I found out why. When the neonatologist [...]