*** The Story Of The Christmas Quest ***
It happened one day near December’s end, two neighbors called on an old-time friend, and they found his shop so meager and mean, made gay with a thousand boughs of green.
And Conrad was sitting with face a-shine, when he suddenly stopped as he stitched a twine, and he said, “Old friends, at dawn today, when the cock was crowing the night away, the Lord appeared in a dream to me and said, “I am coming your guest to be”.
So I’ve been busy with feet astir strewing my shop with branches of fir, the table is spread and the kettle is shined and over the rafters the holly is twined. Now I will wait for my Lord to appear and listen closely so I will hear His step as He nears my humble place, and I open the door and look in His face”.
So his friends went home and left Conrad alone for this was the happiest day he had known. For long since his family had passed away and Conrad has spent many a sad Christmas Day. But he knew with the Lord as his guest, this Christmas would be the dearest and best.
So he listened with only joy in his heart and with every sound he would rise with a start and look for the Lord to be standing there in answer to his earnest prayer. So he ran to the window after hearing a sound, but all that he saw on the snow-covered ground was a shaggy beggar whose shoes were torn and all his clothes were ragged and worn.
But Conrad was touched and went to the door and he said, “Your feet must be frozen and sore, I have some shoes in my shop for you and a coat that will keep you warmer too!”
So with grateful heart the man went away, but as Conrad noticed the time of day, he wondered what made the dear Lord so late and how much longer he'’ have to wait.
When he heard a knock he ran to the door, but it was only a stranger once more. A bent old lady with a shawl of black and a bundle of kindling piled on her back. She asked for only a place to rest, but that was reserved for Conrad’s Great Guest. Yet her voice seemed to plead, “Don’t send me away, let me rest for while on Christmas Day.” So Conrad brewed her a steaming cup and told her to sit at the table and sup.
But after she left, he was filled with dismay for he saw that the hours were passing away and the Lord had not come as He said He would and Conrad felt sure he has misunderstood.
When out of the stillness he heard a cry, “Please help me and tell me where am I”. So again he opened his friendly door and stood disappointed as twice before. It was only a child who had wandered away and lost from her family on Christmas Day. Again, Conrad’s heart was heavy and sad, but he knew he should make this little child glad. So he called her in and wiped her tears and quieted her childish fears. The he led her back to her home once more.
But as he entered his own darkened door, he knew that the Lord was not coming today for the hours of Christmas had passed away. So he went to his room and knelt down to pray and he said, "Dear Lord, why did you delay? What kept You from coming to call on me, for I wanted so much Your face to see”. When soft in the silence a voice he heard, “Lift up you head for I kept My word”
“Three times My shadow crossed your floor—Three times I came to your lonely door—For I was the beggar with bruised, cold feet, I was the woman you gave something to eat, and I was the child on the homeless street.”
“Three times I knocked and three times I came in and each time I found the warmth of a friend”.
Of all the gifts, love is the best, and I was honored to be your Christmas Guest.
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*** DON'T EVER STOP DREAMING YOUR DREAMS ***
Don't ever be reluctant
to show your feelings when
you're happy, give in to it.
When you're not, live with it.
Don't ever be afraid to
try to make things better you might
be surprised at the results.
Don't ever take the weight of the
world on your shoulders.
Don't ever feel threatened by the future,
take life one day at a time.
Don't ever feel guilty about the past
what's done is done.
Learn from any mistakes you might have made.
Don't ever feel that you are alone
there is always somebody there
for you to reach out to.
Don't ever forget that you can achieve
so many of the things you can imagine. ...
It's not as hard as it seems.
Don't ever stop loving
don't ever stop believing,
don't ever stop dreaming your dreams.
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*** WE WISH ***
How often we wish for another chance
To make a fresh beginning.
A change to blot out our mistakes
And change failure into winning.
It does not take a special time
To make a brand-new start,
It only takes the deep desire
To try with all our heart.
To live a little better,
To always be forgiving.
To add a little sunshine,
In a world for which we're living.
Never give up in despair
Nor think you are through,
For there's always a tomorrow,
"A chance to start a new."
Have a Blessed Day
Dave and Barbara
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