Post by Rhonda on Jan 8, 2006 8:23:23 GMT -5
Christmas Stories by Bob Perks
Today's Message:
"In perfect harmony"
by Bob Perks
"I guess it's like the old question, 'If I tree falls in the forest and no
one is there to hear it...'" she said.
"But the tree fell. It served its purpose, lived to become all it was
supposed to become and then it fell. All logic says it did indeed
make a sound," I replied.
"But no one knew," she replied. "No one heard it."
She was struggling with her purpose in life. She was hoping to not
only make a difference, but leave a long lasting impression on the
world.
"I can't believe that anything I have done so far in my life has made
a difference at all," she said.
As hard as I tried I could not convince her that day.
Then last night it all came to me.
I was shutting off the lights as I got ready to go to bed. I just happened to
be standing in front of the clock I bought my wife a few months ago.
This mantle clock needs to be wound periodically. It chimes every quarter
hour and then on the hour.
It was eleven o'clock. "Bong," "Bong," "Bong,"...
At the eleventh chime it stopped. It was then I found the answer.
It was in the resonance of the bell. I listened as long as I could until it faded completely.
"That's it! Thanks God!" I said out loud.
The very next day I contacted my friend.
"I have your answer," I said. "Do you believe in God?"
"Yes, I do," she replied.
"If you do then you must believe that all that you do, both good and bad, makes an impact
on the world."
"Just because God created me?"
"He also created bells."
The blank look on her face told me she had no idea what I was talking about.
"As I stood in front of my mantle clock last night, it chimed 11 times. After the last chime
I listened very closely until I could hear it no more. Then two songs came to mind."
I then began to sing...
Let there be peace on earth
And let it begin with me.
Let there be peace on earth
The peace that was meant to be.
With God as our father
Brothers all are we.
Let me walk with my brother
In perfect harmony.
Let peace begin with me
Let this be the moment now.
With every step I take
Let this be my solemn vow.
To take each moment
And live each moment
With peace eternally.
Let there be peace on earth,
And let it begin with me.
I stopped. She just looked at me.
"Okay, then this song...
I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet the words repeat
Of peace on earth, good will to men.
And in despair I bowed my head
“There is no peace on earth,” I said,
“For hate is strong and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.”
Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail
With peace on earth, good will to men.”
I stopped.
"People in perfect harmony. With every step you take. The bells! The bells!" I shouted.
"God created us all to live in perfect harmony. We live, we die and the
resounding nature of us ever having lived at all rings on long after we are gone.
Every little thing you ever did was like a note struck in the great music of life.
Until the very last note, until that day that God says "Enough!" and the world ceases
as we know it, your part in it was so significant that the Master Conductor would weep for
not having you there.
The bells ring even when I am not there to hear them, but they mark off the time and the
ringing lasts until it exists no more. But it served its purpose by ever having rung at all."
In my enthusiastic explanation I hadn't noticed her response to what I was saying.
Stopping, I placed my hand on her shoulder and looked at her.
Her eyes were like two pools ready to overflow.
"Thank you!" she whispered. She left not saying another word.
Today I found a small package on my front step with my name handwritten on the outside.
I opened and found two small bells.
I rang them..."in perfect harmony."
Merry Christmas!
"I believe in You!"
Bob Perks
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Today's Message:
"The Biggest Gift of All!"
By Bob Perks
"What happened to it?," the child asked.
"What happened to what?" someone replied.
"My gift for Mom and Dad. It was the smallest and it got lost," he sadly replied.
It happens that way. It seems that when it comes to gift giving we feel the need to
out do each other. The bigger the box, the more money we spend, the more love expressed.
It's simply not true. It's all a lie and we know it.
"Oh, you didn't have to..."
Yes they did. The world demands it of us. You know you would have felt rejected,
ignored and overlooked if they didn't give you something.
"I have to get a gift for Joe. He gave me something last year."
"I'm only sending cards to people who sent them to me."
How sad. Gift giving has become a matching game. Or worst yet, a competition.
So it was on this Christmas morning.
"I can't believe all of the presents!" someone said.
"This is even more than last year!" the oldest child confirmed.
"I guess Santa out did himself this year," Dad said.
"You must have been really good!" said Mom.
"Wait before you open them, let's get a picture of it all. We can compare it to
last year's gifts," said Dad.
Then the reds and greens of fancy Christmas paper flew across the room. The
bows and ribbons were crushed among the efforts to make get to the gifts.
The youngest child was lost at times in the rush to find his own Santa's treasures
but managed to survive somehow.
"Don't forget the gifts we got for each other!" one child yelled.
The youngest child stopped what he was doing. He wanted to watch his
parents when they opened his special gift.
But it was no where to be found.
"What happened to it?," the child asked.
"What happened to what?" someone replied.
"My gift for Mom and Dad. It was the smallest and it got lost," he sadly replied.
The others were too busy to help him find it. They already began clearing away
the paper and he feared they had tossed it in the garbage.
"You need to get bigger gifts. You don't lose big gifts," his older sister said laughing.
"But it was the biggest gift of all," the child replied.
He sat down in frustration and began to cry.
"Is this it?" his brother asked as he held the little box in his hand. "I almost stepped on it."
"That's the biggest gift of all?" the sister said mockingly. "What a joke!"
"It is! It is!" he shouted back. "You'll see!"
Then, grabbing it from his brother's hand he straightened out the bow and
handed it to Mom.
"Daddy, come here. This is for you, too," he said while sniffling away his tears.
Everyone stopped what they were doing to see what he had given. Perhaps
just out of curiosity, maybe just to laugh.
Carefully Mom unwrapped the gift and opened the box.
"Oh, my!" she said as she slowly sat down on the couch.
"What? What is it?" someone said.
Then Dad sat down next to her to share the special moment.
"Oh, I see." he said. Looking at his wife he humbly said, "It is indeed the biggest gift."
Then Mom reached in, pulled out the gift and placed it on her hand.
It was the Christ Child in the cradle.
Dad glanced over to look at their manger now buried beneath the all too many gifts.
"Clear away those things," he asked of his oldest child.
The dimly lit star attached to the manger shown down on the spot where the
Christ Child would normally be.
"But he took it from..." his sister began to say until Mom interrupted her.
"He took it from the story of Christmas. The real reason we should be
celebrating," she said.
The small child was standing next to the tree. The white lights sparkled
off the warm streams of tears that ran down his face. Quietly he explained...
"Every year we think about how to give the biggest gift. I thought that this year
I would give the best gift anyone could ever give. The pastor at Bible school
asked us to think about the greatest gift of all. Then I thought about Jesus and
knew that I could not ever out give God. So my gift to you and Dad was the
Biggest gift of all...ever!"
Suddenly it was silent. Mom glanced around the room and humbly said,
"I am ashamed. We had forgotten the meaning of it all."
Then motioning to her son she said, "Come here. You were right.
The Littlest One was indeed the Biggest Gift of all!"
"I believe in You!"
Bob Perks
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"I wish you enough sun to keep your attitude bright.
I wish you enough rain to appreciate the sun more.
I wish you enough happiness to keep your spirit alive.
I wish you enough pain so that the smallest joys in life appear much bigger.
I wish you enough gain to satisfy your wanting.
I wish you enough loss to appreciate all that you possess.
I wish you enough "Hello's" to get you through the final "Goodbye."
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"I am Christmas"
By Bob Perks
I had it all wrong all of these years. I thought I knew Christmas.
Since we have had little time to decorate and no place for a tree,
I thought for sure that there would be no Christmas here for me.
I sat upon my couch last night and sadly saw no candle light.
There was no train, nor stockings there, no tinsel bulbs or angel hair.
I looked outside and saw the snow but nowhere was the Christmas glow.
But still I felt Christmas.
I had no idea that it could be.
"Oh, Holy Night," the nativity, the Wisemen and shepherds.
Mary, Joseph, baby Jesus and the adoring little lambs
placed perfectly on display .
The tree, lights, candy canes and Santa. Children, families,
jingle bells and gift wrap.
Toys, presents, choo choo trains and carols.
The night before and the day of, the shopping and the
smell of homemade everything.
The mistletoe, holly, fresh pine wreaths and tinsel.
Ornaments, garland, starlight and angels.
The sights and sounds of Christmas.
But wait. What if I had none of these? Would there be no Christmas for me?
How foolish!
Because I believe He is...I am Christmas!
I am the glow of the star of Bethlehem.
I am the gifts of the Wisemen.
I am the silence in the Silent Night and the laughter
of a child's delight.
I am the Santa in the fantasy.
I am the twinkle in their eyes.
I am the memory of yesterday and the great moments yet to be.
I am the carols sung by fireside and the gift wrap, bows and mistletoes.
I am Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus and the visions of sugar plums I knew
as a child.
I am the giving and receiving, the faithful and believing.
I need no sight or sound for Christmas to be found.
Because I believe He is...
"I am Christmas."
"I believe in You!"
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"Please don't live in yesterday!"
by Bob Perks
"Mom Mom, Please don't live in yesterday!" the young child cried.
It is the season for this. It is a time of reflection. It is a time when
our spirits soar on the wings of yesterday's dreams and ride heavily
on the hopes for tomorrow.
But for one little girl, there was only today and she wanted her "Mom Mom" to be there.
They had gathered once more for the big family feast. Christmas Day was
not only a special celebration of all they believed in, the foundation of their faith,
but the one and only time when everyone could be together in one place.
As always they gathered at the homestead out on the family farm that had
been a part of their lives for generations. Great great grandparents before
them had tilled the soil and not only provided for their family, but had contributed
to the dozens of families who worked for them through the years. These fields
not only produced crops that help feed the country, they produced strong, faith
filled families who make this country great.
Every Christmas for as long as the family had owned this land everyone returned
to celebrate. Sons and daughters, family and friends all gathered together to
experience what was labeled "The Great Feast."
Through the years as naturally as life itself, the dynamics of this family had changed.
The loss of Grand Dad back in June would make this year's celebration a bit more difficult.
He had been the inspiration to continue on in the farming industry while so many family farms
had succumb to financial loss and family disinterest.
"Grand Dad was our spirit, our back bone," Mom Mom said. And with that set the tone of her
attitude toward this year's gathering.
As family arrived Mom Mom sat quietly in her favorite chair near the fire place. In year's past
she always stood at the front door and personally greeted each and everyone. She did not
have the desire or will this year. It was not only her husband who had died, but her will to go on without him.
As the day progressed everyone made an effort to make her a part of all the special traditions
this family had created through the years. The lighting of the tree, the family sing-along, the personal
visit by Santa himself and the placement of the Christ Child in the great manger beneath the tree
always made this gathering a special memory for every member of this extended family.
Throughout the day every moment triggered yet another sweet but painful memory
for their beloved mother.
"You know the best Christmas we ever had was when..." she would say as she
reflected back on nearly 60 years of Christmas memories with the love of her life.
"The year Grand Dad slipped off the roof trying to show the kids how Santa lands on
house tops had to be the best Christmas. Thank God the snow was piled so deep
along side the house. That was the best year!" she said.
Most of the young children in the family remained oblivious to the adult conversation and
went about doing what they did best. They laughed and played together creating their own
memories to be tucked away for a day far into the future when they would gather around
remembering the good old days.
But little Lisa Ann couldn't help but to be drawn into Mom Mom's reflections. As the
celebration continued Lisa Ann seemed to withdraw from the festivities. Her Mom and Dad
attributed it to fatigue from the long trip to Mom Mom's. They had started their day at 5:00 a.m.
so that they would be able to participate in the entire event and not miss a moment of fun.
But there was something else wrong with Lisa Ann.
At about mid afternoon, everyone had gathered together to exchange gifts. Because of the
size of this extended family all agreed to limit the presents to small, but significant gifts that
would either be handmade or cost under five dollars. The joy and laughter continued as
names were called out and wrapping paper scattered all about the room.
Mom Mom continued to reflect on moments from the past as each gift reminded her of yet
another yesterday.
"Lisa Ann!" Mom Mom called her next to receive her present.
"Lisa Ann, here come get your gift," Mom Mom said.
Lisa Ann rose slowly and reluctantly headed her way.
"Oh, I remember the best Christmas was when..." Mom Mom started to say.
"Mom Mom, stop it!" Lisa Ann cried out.
A hush fell over the room. The young child's cry brought the festivities to a screeching halt.
"Lisa Ann. What's wrong?" her mother asked. "Why would you speak to Mom Mom that way?"
"Mom Mom stop it, " she said again through tears of pain and anguish.
"What's wrong, Lisa? Stop what?" Mom Mom asked as she reached for her and held her tightly.
Lisa, crying so hard, gasped for her breath. Heaving and sobbing she looked up at Mom Mom.
"Mom Mom, please don't live in yesterday," she cried.
Her grandmother and everyone was startled by her words.
"What do you mean Lisa?" she asked.
"Mom Mom. All day long you have been talking about the past. All day long you have said the
best Christmas was this and the Best Christmas was that. Mom Mom, I wasn't there for those
best Christmases. I want to be a part of your best Christmas ever," she said as she buried her
small face into Mom Mom's chest.
"Oh my Lord," said Mom Mom. "I didn't realize...."
As if it were a moment created for a movie, one by one each member of the family reached out
for the hand of another standing near by. Then someone started to sing.
"I'll be home for Christmas
You can count on me
Please have snow and mistletoe
and Presents on the tree."
As everyone continued to sing, Mom Mom looked down and holding Lisa Ann's face in her
hands said, "You know the best Christmas I ever had was the year my beautiful Grandchild
Lisa Ann, reminded me that it is okay to remember yesterday, but don't spend so much time
there that you miss the chance to make new memories for tomorrow."
"Thanks Mom Mom. Merry Christmas. I love you!"
It is a time to remember the moments that made our lives so great. Whether you are
spending a quiet holiday at home or with family gathered together, memories will churn
inside and bubble to the surface at just the right time. Adults have an advantage for they
have collected so many treasured moments through a lifetime. But for the youngest child
these are memories in the making. Don't spend so much time in what once was, that you
miss the chance to create what can be...the best Christmas ever.
"I believe in You!"
Bob Perks
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"Hug Me!"
by Bob Perks
It was there waiting for me. I knew the moment I walked up to it, that I had to connect.
"Hug me!" the small sign read on the teddy bear, so I did.
Music played. A wonderful melody unlike any other I've ever heard before.
"I didn't think that worked anymore," someone said.
She startled me.
"I didn't think anyone was around," I said smiling. I felt foolish
standing there hugging a bear.
"That's been sitting there for years. I don't know why we don't throw it out," she said.
"I'm guessing that's because there's still music left inside. What a waste that would be.
To throw something away that still had music left inside."
I knew the moment I said that, there was a point to be made here.
The year is coming to a close and I was searching for a message to share with you.
How'd you do? I mean, really, how did you do?
Isn't it that time to reflect back over the past year and think about all the good,
bad and indifferent?
In the wee small hours of the evening on that last day of the year, we begin to think about
all we accomplished or all we didn't accomplish.
We listen to the sirens, horns, and noisemakers of the people around the world celebrating the
coming of the new year. We've come far enough in life to wonder what it will bring this time.
Permit me to remind you that one year ago, I was sitting in my living room scared
out of my mind.
Marianne had just found out she had breast cancer and 2005 was frightening.
Now look how far we've come. The year I feared turned out to be a year of hope,
faith and love.
Hope for the future, strengthened by faith and encouraged by the love of thousands
of friends I've never met. You.
I can also remember all too many new years when I saw nothing but emptiness ahead.
I was hopeless and lost.
I thought there was no music left in me.
But God knew better. He always sent someone into my life who sensed that need to connect.
Pausing for a moment on their own journey, their kind words, loving concern and gentle
touch brought me to life.
They brought out the music in my soul.
It was as though I had a sign on me that said..."Hug me."
I am a hugger, you know.
I believe that there is music left inside of you that needs to play again.
There is a song, your song, unlike any other. It was written just for you.
It cannot be played by anyone else, at any other time in the history of the world.
You are sitting there tonight waiting for someone to remind you.
Here I am. God sent me with these words.
2006. Your music. The world needs your music.
I see a sign in front of you that says, "Hug me!"
Consider yourself hugged! Now listen to the music.
"I believe in You!"