“I sometimes think we expect too much of Christmas Day.
We try to crowd into it the long arrears of kindliness
and humanity of the whole year. As for me,
I like to take my Christmas a little at a time,

The day of joy returns, Father in Heaven,
and crowns another year with peace and good will.

Jesus, the Light of the World, as we celebrate your birth . . . . may we begin to see the world in the light of the understanding you give us. As you chose the lowly,

Lord, this is my prayer
Not only on Christmas Day
But until I see You face to face
May I live my life this way:

Somehow, not only for Christmas,
but all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others,
Is the joy that comes back to you.

It’s christmas time once more
let’s praise the king we adore
raise our hands, loudly sing
praise and honour to the King

They left their home, the new cradle still swinging from the rafters. Night after night the aroma of fresh-cut wood had filled the room as Joseph had patiently fashioned the tiny cradle, using the same chisel and saw he usually put down at dusk.

I had smoked ever since I was twelve and by the time I was sixteen, I was given permission to smoke in the house. In those days we had no idea of the dangers of smoking.

One of the warmest Christmas memories that I have was the year that I was Santa Claus. I was a young, substitute teacher with a new family just starting out in life.

If You Look For Me At Christmas. I’m no longer just in Bethelehem,
I’m right there where you are.