Be on the alert for symptoms of inner HOPE, PEACE, JOY AND LOVE. The hearts of a great many have already been exposed to this virus and it is possible that people everywhere could come down with it in epidemic proportions. This could pose a serious threat to what has, up to now, been a fairly stable condition of conflict in the world.
Some signs and symptoms of THE ADVENT VIRUS:
~ A tendency to think and act spontaneously rather than on fears based on past experiences.
~ An unmistakable ability to enjoy the moment.
~ A loss of interest in judging other people.
~ A loss of interest in interpreting the actions of others.
~ A loss of interest in conflict.
~ A loss of the ability to worry.
~ Frequent, overwhelming episodes of appreciation and thankfulness.
~ Contented feelings of connectedness with others and God's nature.
~ Frequent attacks of smiling.
~ An increasing tendency to let things happen rather than make them happen.
~ An increased susceptibility to the love extended by others as well as the uncontrollable urge to extend it.
Please send this warning out to all your friends! This virus can and has affected many systems. Some systems have been completely cleaned out because of it.
--Selected from Mikey's Funnies.
"Two Babies in a Manger"
(Here is another classic Christmas devotional. God@Work editor)
In 1994, two Americans answered an invitation from the Russian
Department of
Education to teach morals and ethics (based on biblical principles)
in the public schools. They were invited to teach at prisons,
businesses, the fire and police departments and a large orphanage.
About 100 boys and girls who had been abandoned, abused, and left in
the care of a government-run program were in the orphanage. They
relate the following story in their own words:
It was nearing the holiday season, 1994, time for our orphans to
hear, for the first time, the traditional story of Christmas. We told
them about Mary and Joseph arriving in Bethlehem. Finding no room in
the inn, the couple went to a stable, where the baby Jesus was born
and placed in a manger. Throughout the story, the children and
orphanage staff sat in amazement as they listened.
Some sat on the edges of their stools, trying to grasp every word.
Completing the story, we gave the children three small pieces of
cardboard to make a crude manger. Each child was given a small paper
square, cut from yellow napkins I had brought with me. No colored
paper was available in the city. Following instructions, the children
tore the paper and carefully laid strips in the manger for straw.
Small squares of flannel [cut from a worn-out nightgown an American
lady was throwing away as she left Russia], were used for the baby's
blanket. A doll-like baby was cut from tan felt we had brought from
the United States.
The orphans were busy assembling their manger as I walked among them
to see
if they needed any help. All went well until I got to one table where
little Misha sat. He looked to be about 6-years-old and had finished
his project. As I looked at the little boy's manger, was startled to
see not one, but two babies in the manger.
Quickly, I called for the translator to ask the lad why there were
two babies in the manger. Crossing his arms in front of him and
looking at this completed manger scene, the child began to repeat the
story very seriously. For such a young boy, who had only heard the
Christmas story once, he related the happenings accurately -- until
he came to the part where Mary put the baby Jesus in the manger. Then
Misha started to ad-lib.
He made up his own ending to the story as he said, "And when Mary
laid the baby in the manger, Jesus looked at me and asked me if I had
a place to stay. I told him I have no mamma and I have no papa, so I
don't have any place to stay. Then Jesus told me I could stay with
Him. But I told him I couldn't, because I didn't have a gift to give
Him like everybody else did. But I wanted to stay with Jesus so much,
so I thought about what I had that maybe I could use for a gift. I
thought maybe if I kept Him warm, that would be a good gift.
"So I asked Jesus, 'If I keep You warm, will that be a good enough
gift?' And Jesus told me, 'If you keep Me warm, that will be the best
gift anybody ever gave Me.' So I got into the manger, and then Jesus
looked at me and He told me I could stay with Him -- for always."
As little Misha finished his story, his eyes brimmed full of tears
that splashed down his little cheeks. Putting his hand over his face,
his head dropped to the table and his shoulders shook as he sobbed
and sobbed. The little orphan had found Someone who would never
abandon nor abuse him, Someone who would stay with him -- for always!
And the Americans? They had learned the lesson they had come there to
teach -- that it is not what you have in your life, but Who you have
in your life that really counts. We all should give thanks for the
people that "keep us warm" in life; and for all of God's many
blessings to us: freedom from want, life, love, togetherness, and for
the enduring love of Jesus Christ, the one person who keeps us warm
and safe for always.
--Author Unknown
God@Work is a ministry of St Mark's United Methodist Church.
