>From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] (Jackie Cortes) >To: [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], >[EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], >[EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], >[EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], >[EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], [EMAIL PROTECTED], >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Subject: CHRISTMAS LOVE >Date: Fri, 15 Dec 2000 06:14:36 -0800 (PST) > > >Each December, I vowed to make Christmas a calm and peaceful experience. >I had cut back on nonessential obligations -- extensive card writing, >endless baking, decorating, and even overspending. Yet still, I found >myself exhausted, unable to appreciate the precious family moments, and >of course, the true meaning of Christmas. >My son, Nicholas, was in kindergarten that year. It was an exciting >season for a six year old. For weeks, he'd been memorizing songs for his >school's "Winter Pageant." I didn't have the heart to tell him I'd be >working the night of the production. Unwilling to miss his shining >moment, I spoke with his teacher. She assured me there'd be a dress >rehearsal the morning of the presentation. All parents unable to attend >that evening were welcome to come then. Fortunately, Nicholas seemed >happy with the compromise. >So, the morning of the dress rehearsal, I filed in 10 minutes early, >found a spot on the cafeteria floor and sat down. Around the room, I >saw several other parents quietly scampering to their seats. As I >waited, the students were led into the room. Each class, accompanied by >their teacher, sat cross-legged on the floor. Then, each group, one by >one, rose to perform their song. Because the public school system had >long stopped referring to the holiday as >"Christmas", I didn't expect anything other than fun, commercial >entertainment -- songs of reindeer, Santa Claus, snowflakes and good >cheer. >So, when my son's class rose to sing, "Christmas Love", I was slightly >taken aback by its bold title. Nicholas was aglow, as were all of his >classmates, adorned in fuzzy mittens, red sweaters, and bright snowcaps >upon their heads. Those in the front row -- center stage -- held up >large letters,one by one, to spell out the title of the song. >As the class would sing "C is for Christmas", a child would hold up the >letter Then, "H is for Happy", and on and on, until each child holding >up his portion had presented the complete message, "Christmas Love". The >performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, we noticed her --a >small, quiet, girl in the front row holding the letter "M" upside down >-- totally unaware her letter "M" appeared as a "W". The audience of 1st >through 6th graders snickered at this little one's mistake. But she had >no idea they were >laughing at her, so she stood tall ,proudly holding her "W". Although >many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued >until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush >came over the audience and eyes began to widen. In that instant, we >understood -- the reason we were there, why we celebrated the holiday in >the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our >festivities. For when the last letter was held high, the message read >loud and clear: CHRIST WAS LOVE. >And, I believe, He still is. > _________________________________________________________________ Get your FREE download of MSN Explorer at http://explorer.msn.com
