Kind
words are the music of the world. They have a power which seems to be beyond
natural causes, as if they were some angels song, who had lost its way
and came on earth. It seems as if they could almost do what in reality
God alone can do…….soften the hard and angry hearts of men. No one was
ever corrected by a sarcasm….crushed perhaps, if the sarcasm was clever
enough….but drawn nearer to God, NEVER.
"The Christmas Rose"
The Christmas rose a known English plant is a true Christmas flower. It is sometimes called the Snow or Winter Rose. It blooms in the depths of winter in the mountains of Central Europe. Legend links it with the birth of Christ and a little shepherdess named Madelyn.
One cold and wintry night
as Madelyn tended her sheep, wise men and other shepherds passed by the
snow covered field where she was, with their gifts for the Christ Child.
As Madelyn watched the wise men with their gifts of gold, myrrh and frankincense,
fruits and doves, poor Madelyn began to weep at the thought of not having
anything, not even a simple flower for the Newborn King. A beautiful angel,
seeing her weeping, brushed away the snow revealing a most beautiful white
flower tipped with pink…The Christmas Rose.
Twas the night before Jesus
came.
Not a creature was praying,
not one in the house.Their Bibles were lain on
the shelf without care,In hopes that Jesus would
not come there.The children were dressing
to crawl into bed,Not once ever kneeling or
bowing a head.And Mom in her rocker with
baby on her lap,Was watching the Late Show
while I took a nap.When out of the East there
arose such a clatter,I sprang to my feet to see
what was the matter,Away to the window I flew
like a flash,Tore open the shutters and
threw up the sash!When what to my wondering
eyes should appear,But angels, proclaiming that
Jesus was here!With a light like the sun
sending forth a bright rayI knew in that moment, this
must be the day!The light of his face made
me cover my head.It was Jesus! Returning just
like He had said.And though, I possessed worldly
wisdom and wealth.I cried when I saw him in
spite of myself.In the Book of Life which
He held in His hand,Was written, the name of
every saved man.He spoke not a word as He
searched for my name;When He said, “Its not here”
my head hung in shame.The people whose names had
been written with love,He gathered to take to His
Father above.With those who were ready
He rose without a sound,While all the rest were left
standing around.I fell to my knees, but it
was too late;I had waited too long and
thus sealed my fate.I stood and I cried as they
rose out of sight;Oh, if only I had been ready
tonight.In the words of this poem
the meaning is clear;The coming of Jesus is drawing
near.There's only one life and
when comes the last callWe'll find that the Bible
was true after all!
I
do hope your Christmas has had a little touch of Eterniy
in
amoung the rush and pitter patter and all.It
always seems such a mixing of this world and
the next........but that after all is the idea!
-Evelyn Underhill-