Post by clansmanchris on Dec 10, 2010 7:45:01 GMT -5
THREE WISHES FOR CHRISTMAS
by CHRISTOPHER LUKE (aka CLANSMANCHRIS)
“If I could grant you three wishes for Christmas, what would you wish for”?
What three things would one wish for?
Presumably something or things, if I am not being too greedy,
That will last for more than twenty-four hours,
Something or things which will stay with me
Through the seasons of the year,
And through all my years in which I walk
This earthly pilgrimage.
One refers, of course, in the first instance to good health,
Both physical and mental;
With no impairment of one’s senses
To enable one to appreciate the miracle of God’s Creation
And the gift of life itself,
In all its diverse forms
Each with its own array of differing characteristics.
Next on my list would be love
Both for a soul-mate to share one’s earthly journey with;
And both to give to, and receive from, others
For without love one will soon find
That the peace one once enjoyed with oneself and others
Is cruelly taken from us by wars, rumours of wars, domestic strife, pestilence and famine,
Rendering respect for life in all its forms - from its conception until its natural death -
As slain as the unborn child brutally murdered by abortifacient practitioners
Masquerading as “health professionals” in an abortion clinic.
Third on my list would be sufficient money,
Not too much to be plagued by pleas and requests from others
Or put one’s family and friends at risk from being taken hostage by others (not unlike Paul and Rachel Chandler)
Unless one was prepared to pay a hefty ransom to secure their release,
Nor too little to be plagued by worrying perpetually
About how one will continue to keep a roof above one’s head and put bread upon one’s table,
But nevertheless enough to live modestly and comfortably
Without attracting the envy of others,
And losing track of one’s roots and the friends and family one has enjoyed thus far,
For fair-weathered creatures only interested in taking what one has
Rather than sharing what they too enjoy, in terms of material possessions and personal attributes.
To conclude then, what three things would one wish for?
Good health, love and sufficient money with which to live and enjoy living.
Is each, let alone all three, too much to ask for,
As one thinks of the gifts the Three Wise Men gave to Joseph and Mary, and the Baby Jesus?
Each, let alone all three, arguably more lasting and valuable than Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh,
Yet at the same time perhaps more finite than those gifts, both wanted and not,
We often exchange with one another under the shadow of a fir tree at Christmastime.
As we celebrate Christmas and exchange cards and gifts with each other, and more often than not bid one another our “best wishes for the festive season and the new year” as we, in turn, often wish for this or that – or perhaps wish that we don’t receive this or that (be it an unwanted shirt or blouse, or a nasty cold, at this time), may we never forget that “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” and be moved to pray:-
Heavenly Father,
Giver of life and all good things. We thank you for the most precious gift of all you gave us: your Son, your Only Begotten Son, who came to live among us, to show us how to live, and to die a terrible death for us, so that those who believe in Him and repent of their mortal sinful ways through Him, may enjoy life eternal with Him as their Saviour and Lord.
Help us appreciate what we have, whether it be health and/or wealth, as well as the talents you have given each of us to use, to bring enjoyment and a sense of individuality and purpose to our lives. Guide us how best to share them and your love with those around us, not just at Christmastime but throughout the year. And as we exchange man-made gifts under the Christmas tree, may we be ever mindful of your precious gift to us; that you are indeed the Tree of Life of which Christ alone is the trunk, our churches are the branches and we as individuals are small (but no less significant) individual leaves which come and go in due season, but upon which others feed to share in your gifts to each of us.
For we ask this in Jesus’ name and for His sake, Amen.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9 v6).
by CHRISTOPHER LUKE (aka CLANSMANCHRIS)
“If I could grant you three wishes for Christmas, what would you wish for”?
What three things would one wish for?
Presumably something or things, if I am not being too greedy,
That will last for more than twenty-four hours,
Something or things which will stay with me
Through the seasons of the year,
And through all my years in which I walk
This earthly pilgrimage.
One refers, of course, in the first instance to good health,
Both physical and mental;
With no impairment of one’s senses
To enable one to appreciate the miracle of God’s Creation
And the gift of life itself,
In all its diverse forms
Each with its own array of differing characteristics.
Next on my list would be love
Both for a soul-mate to share one’s earthly journey with;
And both to give to, and receive from, others
For without love one will soon find
That the peace one once enjoyed with oneself and others
Is cruelly taken from us by wars, rumours of wars, domestic strife, pestilence and famine,
Rendering respect for life in all its forms - from its conception until its natural death -
As slain as the unborn child brutally murdered by abortifacient practitioners
Masquerading as “health professionals” in an abortion clinic.
Third on my list would be sufficient money,
Not too much to be plagued by pleas and requests from others
Or put one’s family and friends at risk from being taken hostage by others (not unlike Paul and Rachel Chandler)
Unless one was prepared to pay a hefty ransom to secure their release,
Nor too little to be plagued by worrying perpetually
About how one will continue to keep a roof above one’s head and put bread upon one’s table,
But nevertheless enough to live modestly and comfortably
Without attracting the envy of others,
And losing track of one’s roots and the friends and family one has enjoyed thus far,
For fair-weathered creatures only interested in taking what one has
Rather than sharing what they too enjoy, in terms of material possessions and personal attributes.
To conclude then, what three things would one wish for?
Good health, love and sufficient money with which to live and enjoy living.
Is each, let alone all three, too much to ask for,
As one thinks of the gifts the Three Wise Men gave to Joseph and Mary, and the Baby Jesus?
Each, let alone all three, arguably more lasting and valuable than Gold, Frankincense and Myrrh,
Yet at the same time perhaps more finite than those gifts, both wanted and not,
We often exchange with one another under the shadow of a fir tree at Christmastime.
As we celebrate Christmas and exchange cards and gifts with each other, and more often than not bid one another our “best wishes for the festive season and the new year” as we, in turn, often wish for this or that – or perhaps wish that we don’t receive this or that (be it an unwanted shirt or blouse, or a nasty cold, at this time), may we never forget that “Jesus is the Reason for the Season” and be moved to pray:-
Heavenly Father,
Giver of life and all good things. We thank you for the most precious gift of all you gave us: your Son, your Only Begotten Son, who came to live among us, to show us how to live, and to die a terrible death for us, so that those who believe in Him and repent of their mortal sinful ways through Him, may enjoy life eternal with Him as their Saviour and Lord.
Help us appreciate what we have, whether it be health and/or wealth, as well as the talents you have given each of us to use, to bring enjoyment and a sense of individuality and purpose to our lives. Guide us how best to share them and your love with those around us, not just at Christmastime but throughout the year. And as we exchange man-made gifts under the Christmas tree, may we be ever mindful of your precious gift to us; that you are indeed the Tree of Life of which Christ alone is the trunk, our churches are the branches and we as individuals are small (but no less significant) individual leaves which come and go in due season, but upon which others feed to share in your gifts to each of us.
For we ask this in Jesus’ name and for His sake, Amen.
“For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be called Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace.” (Isaiah 9 v6).