F o r t e n y e a r s n o w , banquet, I’ve wanted one of those mink, fur-trimmed sweaters. Each Christmas or birthday I’ve wondered (aloud) if I would get one. Since my husband is of a more practical na ture, he’s given me things like a bathrobe and once, a picture of him self (? ) but no mink, fur-trimmed sweater. Also for ten years now, I’ve found I can do perfectly well with out one of those sweaters and really it’s much more wonderful to spend that money on others who have some real needs. But with (»Christmas around the corner, I’ve begun a favorite day dream of mine. It begins with me imagining a beautiful gift-wrapped package being delivered. A famous furrier label is on the outside and I just know it is THE sweater. I bring it in, put it under the tree and wait until Christmas morning. While the family opens their gifts, I keep saying, “ It’s too pretty to open. I think I’ll just keep it and never open it. I know it’s a sweater, it’s mine, and I’ll bring it out each Christmas to look at.” Hardly! In the first place I wouldn’t wait until Christmas, and beautiful wrapping or not, I’d tear the box apart, put on my sweater, phone my thanks and devotion to my husband and then, then I would WEAR it everywhere . . . telling everyone about it! Each Christmas we watch most of the world we live in get ready for the event. All around us we see peo ple getting out the precious gift, the figurines of Mary, Joesph and the Baby; we hear the singing of the beautiful carols and we see them going to special services in His hon or but they leave this Baby wrapped in swaddling clothes. We see them keeping Christ just a baby, never letting Him be the Lord of their life. Oh, He is beautifully-wrapped and admired during the season but when the holidays are over, we put Him away with the rest of our Christmas tree ornaments. We neg lect to “wear” the mantle of Christ and even sadder, we don’t tell any one about God and His precious blood-bought Gift. Remember the shepherds’ first words after the angels left them? It was, “ Let us go!” What a won derful time of the year to invite our neighbors in for a Christmas brunch or an evening with dessert to tell them about the most precious Gift of Christmas . . . to maybe unwrap the little Baby and let them see the Lord in all His glory. If we led some neighbor, friend or ever since I first saw one on a lady at a
associate to Christ, this Christmas season, what gift could we possibly give them that would be more valu able than the gift of eternal life?
they talked about Christmas: the hoped-for gifts, the excitement of tree-trimming, the happy prospect of Christmas dinner. I looked up from the papers I was grading and said, “ Just think, if it weren’t for Jesus, there wouldn’t be a Christmas. It’s His birthday we’re honor ing. What do you think your mother would serve if He came to YOUR house for dinner?” What sudden com p e tition ! And what a mixture of menus! Of course one turkey would nev er do. For Jesus there would be turkey and ham and chicken . . . plus every imaginable salad . . . and at least five desserts. Melanie was the only child who had nothing to suggest. I knew her background. Her fa ther had given his life for the country whose flag we salute each morning. Her mother had been without work for weeks. I called her to my desk: “Melanie, I’m sure Jesus would love to eat at your house.” She thought for a moment and then replied, “ I f He really came, I know we wouldn’t have left-overs THAT day.” Are we giving Him “ left overs” of our time, our energy, our love, this busy Christmas season? Or is He the KING of our lives? by Mrs. Ruth Calkin
ALMOND COOKIES These are those marvelous little white cookies that you pack into a decorated coffee can (use up those scraps of velvet, lace, and gold rick rack) and give with love at Christ mas time. You'll need: Vi lb. butter 1 cup whole almonds (to be ground or chopped) Method: Cream sugar and butter then fold in ground almonds and flour in about 3 portions. Shape dough into long rolls about the diameter of a quarter and chill. Slice long rolls into little cookie rounds, bake at 275“ 40-45 min utes. While still warm coat with powdered sugar. P.S. You can cheat and use oleo or margarine but it does make them taste like the "Ordinary Brand X " kind. It happened on a Friday after noon, the week before Christ mas. Several fourth graders had stayed after school to help erase the blackboards. As they worked, 4 tbsp. sugar 2 cups flour
THE KING'S BUSINESS
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