Centenary UME
Ladies’ Group Dec 2006
Winter Wonderland…
You’ve started getting ready for Christmas.. trees..decorations...buying gifts ... worrying about time... If you’re under 16: Oh Boy! If you’re over 21: Oh No! Between 16 and 21, you’re not sure.
Some weird things I’ve seen and heard.. ---good friend who secretly saves money all year because she and her husband have agreed to cut down on Christmas spending, but she has no intention of doing so. ---A lady who purposely attends basketball games in December to see what other mothers are buying their kids. --- U.S. households are expected to spend an average of $449 on gifts during the holiday season (Okay..I know what you are all doing in your heads right now..stop it. You compare just fine.)
The good news: WalMart registers nearly $20,000 profit every minute of every day. Last fiscal year, WalMart recorded profits of $10.3 billion. Okay…time out… I think we need another Christmas song…. White Christmas Make your Christmas Brighter, Whiter, Happier, Richer, etc…. Make your Christmas smaller… ---prayer rides around town ---my neighbor: A Christmas present for the birds. Pine cone, peanut butter, bird seed. ---build a snowman in someone’s yard who can’t build one any more. One year: my seventh-grade: a snowman building contest in Arenzville…34. ---Next time shopping: Say Merry Christmas to total strangers. ---Send a love letter to someone and don’t sign it. Let them suspect the whole world ---Eat more ice cream. So far, the total cost of this project has been a jar of peanut butter and a handful of bird seed. Feeling better? Medley: Joy to the World, Oh Come all Ye Faithful, Joy
GIVE MORE SURPRISES! ---The fifty-dollar gift you always give to the same person isn’t much of a thrill..to them or to you. Go ahead and give it if you have to, but give the one-dollar gift that nobody expects you to give. Today in S’field: AT&T…simply gave away shoes. ---I did this last Christmas. Lady at County Market with beautiful fingernails. The floral section is the first..bought her a carnation and handed it to her after I’d checked out. You’d have think I gave her a new Mercedes. ---a decorated apple to the lady who always smiles at you at church..tell her it’s just because she smiles. ---Simply tell someone...”I’ve waited all year to say this, but I really appreciate you.” It’ll be remembered long after their Nintendo or their designer scarf has worn out. Suggested to my seniors…graduation night…leave a note on parents’ steering wheel… most wonderful graduation ceremony we ever had..and the wettest. ---We have a lady in our church who brings fresh flowers for the altar every Sunday (flower shop refuse)...Nobody ever brings her any flowers. One lady did. ---Give more gifts without letting anyone know who did it. The best gift: when the giver is unknown. Lockers at school for Mary. -----Goon Squad. ---A wonderful lady in our community..for the past 20 years.. has simply asked me to spy on kids… tell me who needs some financial help. They get the anonymous cash in the mail. THE IDEA BEHIND CHRISTMAS IS “SURPRISE”...When I was born, I had no idea that a baby was born 2,000 years ago in Bethlehem to take away my sins. It was a surprise to me!
Rudolph …Jingle Bell Rock
- FIX SOMETHING: I was my brother’s house Saturday night when his wife decided to put up the tree. Translated: Keith, get the stuff out. Everything had to be fixed. The Christmas tree stand was broken. One of the candle sconces was broken.. before they could celebrate, they had to fix. ---Think of a problem you have which you just can’t get off your mind and you can’t do anything about. MAKE YOURSELF FORGET ABOUT IT FOR ONE WEEK. ---Think of a relationship you have which has been damaged. HEAL IT THIS SEASON. It know it’s not your fault, it’s theirs. But Elmer always told me, “When two people have an argument, it’s up to the smarter of the two to fix it.” And you know you’re smarter, right? -----Maybe it’s your attitude that needs to be fixed. First bird feeder. Bought three.. carefully checked out seeds. Nailed it near bathroom window.. Ran inside to see what would happen. Nothing: then…THE SNOW. Squirrels came.. tried greasing the top of the house. Knocking on window. Shouting. Nothing. Then…changed my attitude. I called it a squirrel feeder. Now it’s perfect.. because I changed my outlook.
FINALLY.. If you’re looking for that perfect gift to give: Give Yourself this Christmas. It’s the one gift God wants most from you. ---It’ll make your load lighter. Jeff W: giving person. Tied up on day before Christmas. Gave of himself even then. Albert Sweitzer: The only ones among you who will be truly happy are those who’ve sought and found out how to serve others.
Go Tell it to the Mountain G Silent Night
Joy to be Simple Laura Ingalls Wilder It is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all. May you have the plainest, the simplest Christmas ever.
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