The shopping malls are packed, parking spaces are limited, and long lines are what we have to look forward to when we check out. It seems patience is low, and not many are able to remember the true meaning of Christmas.

Christmas is not only a time of giving gifts to others, but to remember and celebrate a master teacher who lighted the way for us all to follow. He showed us what we are capable of if we try and believe. All of what he did we are capable of and more.

Christmas is the one-day that we are all called to remember what our true purpose here is, and to appreciate and celebrate the love we have for one another. Sounds simple doesn’t it? I think we can all agree it isn’t always so cut and dry.

Tensions mount as this day comes closer, there are many things to remember, many things to buy, and frustration reigns when we are stuck in a line for twenty minutes waiting to purchase a few things. Money is short for many of us, and we pray we will make it through this season and can’t wait for it to be over. It’s easy to get stuck in this negative thought pattern and stay there.

This holiday season we change the sadness some of us feel inside, we can get past the tensions and frustrations. The first step is recognizing the stress we are under the sadness we feel. Acknowledge this and accept that it is ok to feel this way, but we do not need to be stuck there.

Remember, our thoughts create our reality. Listen to that inner dialog that plays in your head.  What are your thoughts telling you? Are their worries 0playing over and over? Is there something you can’t get out of your head?

If our thoughts are talking nothing but negativity, stress, worry, that is what our reality is. Then we are worried and stressed ignoring all of the other things around us that are wonderful and beautiful. Focus on the positive. If you take the time to think about it you will see there are many in your life at all times. Conquer this inner dialogue that plays inside, you are in charge YOU choose what your days will be filled with.

Now that you are changing your thought patterns the second thing you need to do is to do something to alleviate the cause of worry, or stress or sadness. If you are worried about money then make a plan and work towards changing this. If you are lonely or sad you can visit the local senior citizens home, or children’s hospital and lend them a caring hand. If you face these worries head on, then your inner dialogue just may run out negative things to say.

The third and final thing you must do is simple Count your blessings. When I say blessings I do not mean material things. I mean think about each and everyone of your family members, and friends. When was the last time you spoke to every last member of your family? Are there rifts in the family somewhere that causes you to not speak as often as you wish you could? Too often we take for granted the loved ones in our lives. It’s easy to get so wrapped up in our day-to-day lives we forget about these people.

Its not really because we don’t love them. It’s definantly not because we don’t care that we lose contact. It just seems to happen sometimes. This happened to me not so long ago. My family was never very close. My cousins and I grew up not knowing each other at all. You see there was some sort of rift in the family that I am not sure even really matters anymore. But here we all are thirty years later still not talking but at funerals and weddings.

My cousins went on to have families of their own, and I had no idea how many children each of them had let alone their names. My oldest cousin had the first grandchild and great grandchild of our family. She grew to be this beautiful teenager. She is so very helpful, smart and beautiful. I am told that Paris is her dream and she has tickets to go there the end of this month. She earned every penny of this trip herself by raising funds, and by working two jobs while going to school full time.

I am told she has a very bright future and has a huge love for humanity and helping people. I learned a lot about my second cousin in a very short time. She is motivated, kind, loving, and the first person to be there if you need help. Why am I telling you this you ask? I didn’t learn any of these facts about my cousin from experiencing her and watching her grow. You see she died this month four days before her 17^th birthday. Instead of celebrating her birthday with her like her parents had planned, her funeral was on this day.

I lost my chance to get to know this lovely family member. I wont be at her wedding, or get a chance to tell her how sorry I was for not taking the chance to be apart of her life. I thought long and hard about what I could learn from this experience.

I learned that no matter what problems we may have with our family members, don’t forget to love them.

Don’t forget to know them for if you don’t, you may be missing the most wonderful experience. Be there for them, and take joy in their very existence.

I learned that sometimes you have to be the one to wave the white flag and learn and move on, or as the Jesus says, turn the other cheek. 

After I thought long and hard about this, I made a promise to myself. I promised to not let this happen again. I talked to all of my family there, even the ones I hadn’t seen or talked to in years. I took joy in knowing them and reacquainted myself with each and everyone.

I explained how I felt and that I had no excuse for not being in touch with them but I would like to change that. I was nervous about doing this because I wasn’t sure how they would react. I was pleasantly surprised to learn they felt the very same way. Now we have a date planned to get together this Christmas, our whole family. We have never done this before and I cannot wait to have us all together again. Slowly but surely we will get to know each other and I thank my dear departed second cousin for teaching me this valuable lesson.

Cherish all those you love and who love you. You never know when you wont get a second chance.

Now that you are beginning to see what Christmas is really about, I ask you who can you share the Christmas love and spirit with?

You can really change a person’s day or life for the better with simple acts of kindness. Its as simple sometimes as letting someone go in front of you in a grocery store who has less items than you. It’s opening the door for someone who has an armful of packages. It can even be a smile and a hello given to someone who is scurrying about at the last minute for Christmas things.

We don’t really need to look any farther to spread this love and joy than our everyday travels. Think about how many people you encounter in your day. What simple thing can you do to spread love and Christmas joy to another who is feeling sad or stressed or overwhelmed? When you give in this manner, the benefits far outweigh any thing else. Have you noticed that when you give something of yourself to another, that you always feel great afterwards? This is the circle that we create with love, and one day when you need it most, it will be returned back to you.

I was in a big warehouse type store not long ago. It was the middle of the day; I had nothing better to do than wait in this long line for my chance at a check out. My cart was very full with Christmas gifts, and food for the holiday. As I patiently waited my turn I noticed a man behind me who looked rather hurried. The only thing he was purchasing was a few things he carried in his hands.

I decided that it wouldn’t hurt me to wait a little longer and turned to the gentleman. “Would you like to go in front of me I said” He looked at me with very wide eyes. “Really?” he said. “Sure” I replied. “You only have a few things and I am in no hurry” He smiled so big and bright and stepped ahead. Little did I know that he would teach me a lesson.

A few minutes passed this lovely soul turned to me and said “You know I have never been a believer that what you do comes back to you, but you proved that to me today” He continued” The other day for the first time in my life, I allowed someone to go ahead of me in line. Its not something I normally do but I told the man not to worry about it because it will come back to me eventually.” “I never really believed it” he said.

Then two days pass here I am in a huge hurry the store is packed and I know I am going to be late, and it did indeed come back to me.  Well as you can imagine what he gave to me was a beautiful lesson. I felt great and for the rest of the day I was happy and knew I had made an impact in this stranger’s life if only for a few minutes.

Really it doesn’t take much effort as you can see. This special holiday we celebrate isn’t necessarily about only the master teacher born on this day. I think if we asked Jesus what he would want and expect of us on this day, it wouldn’t be so much to celebrate his birth, but to spread the teachings he taught.

Treat all with kindness, understanding and love. Pick up the telephone and call an old relative you may not have spoken to in years. Visit a lonely neighbor and spend time talking and listening to them. If we all took the time to do one nice thing a day can you imagine what a lovely time of year this would be for all?

What a better way to celebrate this and every holiday than to speak with our heart, reach out to others in need, and spread the love to all those you encounter everyday.

I would like to share one last story with you. It’s a story that truly touched my heart and inspired me to reach out to others.

This story is by Donna Wallace and is Called “A Christmas Miracle”

Helen was a beloved friend to all those who knew her. 

She had belonged to the same church for almost all her adult life. She saw many members come and go, bond and feud, but she had always remained faithful to her beliefs, and she was highly respected, and cherished, among all the other parishioners.

Poor Helen. She wasn't a young spry chicken anymore. She was well into her 90's, and not quite as energetic and bubbly as when she first visited the church so many years ago.

Christmas 1998 was not destined to be a very kind year to Helen. She had suffered many losses. She lost her beloved husband six years before, but this year she seemed to have lost it all. After her dear husband passed away, she had moved in with her daughter, Becky, and her young granddaughter, Jennifer. They saved her from the loneliness she would surely have visited without their love. They grew closer every day, and each new day, life brought them more to be grateful and appreciative of. They knew they were blessed, and always remembered their blessings in prayer.

Jennifer was only two years old when Helen first came to live with them. Cute as a button, rambunctious, outgoing, and always joyful and singing. She made a house a home. Becky and Helen used to kid how it took the two of them to even half keep up with the whirlwind they nicknamed "Sunshine". Jennifer was curious as a cat, and filled the day with endless questions - some deep, some comical, and each one needing answers! Her mother, and her grandma were careful never to carelessly brush her questions aside, or grow impatient. They answered each and every one, if not with wisdom, then at least with unbridled love. Jennifer grew into a brilliant young lady, and everyone predicted a bright and sunny future for the special little girl.

Life is funny. Predictions sometimes don't come to pass. Future's sometimes only last today.

One night, driving home from the store, Becky and Jennifer were hit, head on, by a drunk driver. It was a mistake. A horrid mistake. If it weren't for a flat tire, they would have been home long before the intoxicated man drove down their street. Their shiny future ended that night. Their dreams, and plans and goals scattered among the broken glass, and the shredded steel. They were gone - forever. Once again, Helen was alone.

The sorrow and remorse that lived in Helen's heart surely should have killed her, she thought. The agony of losing those closest to her, the loneliness of being all alone, in a house as quiet as a tomb, and the emptiness of having nothing more to live for were more than she could bear.

Every Sunday she continued to go faithfully to her church, pray to her God, and she was always polite, but oh so sad. She had changed - withered, deflated, crumbled. She seemed to hardly be able to put one foot in front of the other. Her joyous laughter was seldom heard, her excitement and zest for life was simply no longer a part of who she was. She was no longer inflated - just completely deflated - flat. Zombie-like instead of lifelike. Just waiting for her turn to go be with her loved ones.

Naturally, all the other parishioners saw the change. They felt her sadness, and loneliness. She had always been such a pillar of strength, a friend in need, someone who could be counted on when the rest of the world had checked out. She was always there, in every way, for everyone. But now, she wasn't there at all, and nobody seemed to know how to comfort and help her.

But everyone saw. And everyone knew - from the oldest members, to the toddlers. They all saw the change, and the grief, and the pain.

Months passed. It was now December, and the holiday season was proving to be harder than Helen imagined it would be - and lonelier. She still went about living, kept up appearances, prayed, and was kind to everyone she met. Yet she felt like she was melting - disolving - dying, slowly inside. She wondered if she would see Christmas this year, or go to spend it with those that went before her - the ones she loved.

Then, the second Sunday of December, the Sunday School Teacher came to her with a special request. Would she be kind enough to help with trimming the tree that stood in the middle of the children's classroom? Each child had handmade a special ornament, to place on the tree, and they needed assistance, and adult supervision. Helen tried to gracefully decline, but the teacher smiled, and said that the children had requested that she be the assistant this year. It was important to them for some reason, the teacher whispered.

The night of the special event, Helen was present. She was dressed as immaculate as always, and wore the best smile she could muster. The sight of the young children was bittersweet. The laughter and playfulness were refreshing, but they also held memories of her dear, grandaughter, Jennifer, who had passed away just four short months before. For the first time in months though, you could occassionally see her eyes shining, through a veil of tears. She decided she was happy that the children had thought to invite her, and thankful that she had decided to come join in the merriment. She felt more alive than she had since that dreadful day in August 1998.

Most of the ornaments had already been placed on the tree when an excited, almost giddy group of children came to her and took her by the hand. They led her to an ornate, red velvet chair that the teacher must have pushed into the center of the room, and they begged for her to sit down. Curious, and a little aprehensive, Helen obeyed, goodheartedly. You could see a tiny smile light up the corner of her mouth as she wondered what the little gremlins were up to.

A group, of five girls and four boys, sat in front of her splendid chair, smiling up at her with eyes moist with tears of happiness, and mouths trying not to prematurely babble the secret they were about to share with her. In the middle of the group sat a magnificent gold, gift-wrapped box addressed to: "Our Grandma, with Love."

Eight year old Christine stood before Helen, tears overflowing, smiling from ear to ear, eyes dancing at the speed of light. Christine had always been special to Helen, for she had been Jennifer's best friend ever since she could remember. They had spent much time together over the years, and they had grown close. She placed the box in Helen's tiny lap and the whole group rose in unison, and began to sing just for an amazed and delighted Helen, who seemed to be crying and laughing and praying all at the same time! With pride in their eyes, and love in their voices, and their notes sometimes off-key, they musically told her the reason that she was there. It was easy, yet touching to see that the children had written the words, and the song just for her. A gift to be cherished. Wonderful memories to last forevermore.

Each of the nine small children either had no grandmother any longer, or had never even known theirs. This was a very special celebration and union - a new family meeting, and bonding, and growing and loving - and sharing a very special Christmas. One by one, they unpacked the special ornament they made, and proudly showed her their surprise. Each ornament was addressed, "To my special Grandma, with Love - on our First Christmas". Every ornament was unique, special, splendid, and every one was a miracle beyond belief, to a heart so desperately in pain.

Once again, proving that predictions, don't always come true.....Xmas 1998 wasn't unkind to Helen whatsoever. No, Christmas 1998, was a new beginning, a brand new start, and nine new reasons to celebrate many more Christmas's to come. The next two weeks Helen became a human dynamo! She baked, she decorated, she sang and filled her house with so much cheer until at last it warmed up again, and became a home. She invited her nine special grandkids over and celebrated a Christmas as only a very special, wonderful grandma knows how to do, filled to the brim with magical memories that only the nine most special grandchildren on earth could ever have provided.

You see, dear sweet Helen wasn't the only one in need that Christmas. She wasn't the only lonely soul who felt the emptiness and a void which needed filling. The children in their infinite wisdom saw her need, and in filling her need, they filled their own.

In the spirit of giving and spreading love I brought each of you an ornament kind of like what Helen received. It may look like any other ornament but this is quite different you see. It represents the Christmas spirit and I give it to you in love.

 I ask that you place it on your tree and every time you look at it, remember dear Helen. Remember that you have the power inside of you to make things brighter, happier and better for yourself, and all of gods other beautiful children.

It truly does only take a small effort on the part of us all to bring about peace and love. What a better way to honor the memory of the wonderful master teacher Jesus.

Lastly I want to remind you to give this love and joy to yourself as well. Keep it inside your heart 365 days of the year. Do not worry about earthly problems; know that the answer is present before the problem exists.

A very Merry Christmas to each and everyone of you and a Happy New Year.