The Christmas Story for Families

Q. Our families will be with us on Christmas day including a number of children. My wife and I want to recognize the birth of Christ in addition to our usual gift exchange and feast. Any ideas about this?

A. The best idea I can think of is to read the Christmas Scripture. We have done this with our family, including the children in the reading. We assigned roles to a Narrator, Angels, the Prophet, Shepherds, the Magi, Priests and Teachers and Herod. Children enjoy this; learn from this and like being involved. Our NIV script is below. The Narrator reads the black print.

The Birth of Christ as told in the Bible

Matthew 1:18-24

This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about: His mother Mary was pledged to be married to Joseph, but before they came together, she was found to be with child through the Holy Spirit. Because Joseph her husband was a righteous man and did not want to expose her to public disgrace, he had in mind to divorce her quietly. But after he had considered this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,

ANGEL: "Joseph son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary home as your wife, because what is conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. She will give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."

 All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:

PROPHET: "The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and they will call him Immanuel"—which means, "God with us."

When Joseph woke up, he did what the angel of the Lord had commanded him and took Mary home as his wife. But he had no union with her until she gave birth to a son. And he gave him the name Jesus.

Luke 2: 1-10 In those days Caesar Augustus issued a decree that a census should be taken of the entire Roman world. (This was the first census that took place while Quirinius was governor of Syria.) And everyone went to his own town to register. So Joseph also went up from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to Bethlehem the town of David, because he belonged to the house and line of David. He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for the baby to be born, and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them,

ANGEL:"Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger."

                                                                                                                         

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying, 

                                                                                                                           

ANGELS: "Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to men on whom his favor rests."

When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another,

SHEPHERDS: "Let's go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about."

 So they hurried off and found Mary and Joseph, and the baby, who was lying in the manger. When they had seen him, they spread the word concerning what had been told them about this child, and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds said to them. But Mary treasured up all these things and pondered them in her heart. The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all the things they had heard and seen which were just as they had been told.

Matthew 2:1-12 12 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi from the east came to Jerusalem and asked,

MAGI: "Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star in the east and have come to worship him."

When King Herod heard this he was disturbed, and all Jerusalem with him. When he had called together all the people's chief priests and teachers of the law, he asked them where the Christ was to be born.

PRIESTS & TEACHERS: "In Bethlehem in Judea," they replied, "for this is what the prophet has written: " 'But you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah; for out of you will come a ruler who will be the shepherd of my people Israel.'”

Then Herod called the Magi secretly and found out from them the exact time the star had appeared. He sent them to Bethlehem and said,

HEROD: "Go and make a careful search for the child. As soon as you find him, report to me, so that I too may go and worship him."

After they had heard the king, they went on their way, and the star they had seen in the east went ahead of them until it stopped over the place where the child was. When they saw the star, they were overjoyed. On coming to the house, they saw the child with his mother Mary, and they bowed down and worshiped him. Then they opened their treasures and presented him with gifts of gold and of incense and of myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to go back to Herod, they returned to their country by another route.

Christmas Blessings, Dottie

CHRISTMAS AFTER DIVORCE

Q. I’m a single parent of two children. My husband asked for a divorce last January; the divorce was final in June and he remarried in July. I’m depressed about the breakup of my marriage and overwhelmed at the thought of celebrating the Holidays. The children are still adjusting to the changes - we’re now living in a small apartment and they see their Dad every other weekend. How can I get through the Holidays? I want to give my children a happy Christmas in spite of all the changes. What do you suggest?

A. The first Christmas after a loss or major change in a family is difficult for all concerned. We go through a grieving process with any loss - not just when someone dies. Christmas often intensifies feelings of depression or loss because it is “supposed” to be a happy family time. 

It’s helpful that you’re living in a different place this year. One reason grief intensifies at Christmas is due to memories from the past that include the person we’ve lost. Being in a different location, without all the reminders of the past will make it easier to not let memories intrude on current enjoyment. You may want to change some of your usual Christmas routines for this reason.

       

Recognize that this Christmas will be different than previous Christmases. Talk this over with your parents or other relatives who will be involved in celebrating with you. Relatives grieve when a divorce occurs in the family, so they are dealing with sadness also. They may hesitate to talk about their own grief unless you share yours. Sharing your feelings will help all of you through the grieving process. Do this as you plan for Christmas so all will be prepared for the ways in which this Christmas will be different.

       

Talk with the children also about plans for this Christmas and about the fact that it will be different without Daddy there. It’s OK for your children to see some of your tears or sadness. It may even help them share their pain. Explain to them that we all grieve when there is a loss. But also reassure them that you will all be OK.           

Give your children as much of your time and attention as you can. This may seem impossible with all you have to do. Include them in the planning for Christmas. Let them help with household chores as well as with shopping, gift wrapping, and decorating. A few minutes listening to them and enjoying them at bedtime can also make a big difference to a child. Give hugs, kisses and say “I love you.”

You must also be very good to yourself during this difficult period of time. Single parents carry a double load of responsibility anyway and then to add to this the grieving process that follows divorce plus the extra “work” of preparing for Christmas and the result can be overwhelming. 

       

There are many ways you can be good to yourself. Don’t expect things to be perfect. Do only what is essential. Take time for yourself. Spend time with friends who love you and who lift your spirits. Accept help from others. Don’t hide your feelings, share them. See a counselor if you have no one else you can talk openly with or if you are seriously depressed, anxious or overwhelmed.

Focus on the deep meaning of Christmas. An Advent calendar and   Christmas readings each day can be enjoyed by all of you. Most churches have special Christmas programs throughout the month. Take your children with you to these and enjoy the music and the deep meaning of Christmas.

I hope these ideas will help you have as Merry a Christmas as possible.

“For unto us a child is born…” Isaiah 9:6

Blessings, Dottie

 

FAMILY RECONCILIATION AT CHRISTMAS

 Q. I'm 18 years old and a senior in high school. My older sister got married last summer. Dad refused to go to her wedding because he didn’t approve of her fiancé. My sister was very hurt by this and everyone was upset. My Dad and my sister still aren't talking. My sister doesn’t come over to the house any more so I never see her. When I call her to talk to her my Dad accuses me of siding with my sister. I’m sad and upset about this and wish my family wasn’t so divided. At Thanksgiving my sister went to her husband's family for dinner. I'm worried now about what will happen at Christmas. I'm not sure they will ever make up. My Dad's sister hasn't spoken to their Dad for about 20 years. ? What can I do to help?

 A, Alienation between two members of a family creates heartbreak, tension and un happinessfor every one. Often family alienation occurs around special occasions, especially around "rites of passage" such as weddings and funerals. These are emotion packed occasions. Alienation is a detouring of the emotions, almost like a short circuit. It protects the persons involved from overwhelming emotions just as a circuit breaker stops an overload of electricity from doing damage. 

In your father's and sister's case, they probably both had overwhelming feelings about no longer being intimately involved as father and daughter. It’s interesting that there is long lasting alienation going on in your father's family. This type of “cut off” often runs in families. There may have been alienation in his family going back for many generations. The circumstances of the alienation in previous generations may even be similar as each generation learns from the previous one and tries to resolve the same emotional difficulties in familiar ways. 

Often family alienation can be resolved if one person will make the attempt to do so. The person reaching out may have to do so more than once, however, in order to break through the emotional barrier set up by months or years of hurt and angry silence. When a family estrangement has continued for a long period of time, counseling may be necessary in order to resolve it. The hard work of family therapy can stop the repetition of bitter divisions carried on from one generation to another. 

Here’s what you can do: Enlist the rest of the family to convince your Dad and your sister to make up. Perhaps the family member closest to each one can talk individually with each of them or you can hold a family meeting with each one. Give the two injured parties time to express their feelings. Listen without arguing. When they have finished, ask them to listen to you. Then tell them how you feel about the alienation, how it is affecting you. Use “I” statements rather than “You” statements (which sound blaming) – such as the one you used “I’m sad and upset and wish my family wasn’t divided.” 

Find out what they want from the other person in order to reconcile and then share this to the other person. Let each one know of any softening on the part of the other. Remind them that Christmas is about love and therefore a great time to forgive. Tell them forgiveness does not mean the other person hasn’t hurt them. Forgiveness means letting go of my desire to hurt the other person for hurting me. 

Readers: Is there someone you need to forgive and reconcile with this Christmas?  Don’t let pride or stubbornness keep you from forgiveness and love. 

“Be kind to each other. Tenderhearted forgiving one another, just as God through Christ Jesus has forgiven you.”  Ephesians 4:32 

Blessings, Dottie

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How to Navigate My Blog

How to Navigate My Blog
Currently my subscribers are not receiving my blog posts. I’m hoping to have this fixed soon. If anyone reading this knows how to fix it let me know! In the meanwhile or even when you are receiving them you can go to my blog anytime to browse. That’s right you can look at any of my writings from this week to last month to last year to back in 2010!                                                  

First, click on my blog address www.faithnotes-dottie.blogspot.com or copy and paste it in goggle. It should pop up a page called Faith Notes. I usually post something new weekly. The most recent post will be shown first with previous ones available below. You can look at my blog anytime you wish.

What is a blog? A blog is short for WEB LOG. It’s an on line journal. A blog can be set up in many ways. Many people post family pictures to share with other family members. Many use a blog to keep relatives and friends informed when someone in the family is going through a crisis. A happier reason to have one is to build a following as a writer or as an artist or to help others with good information about various subjects.

Pick Any Subject. When you go to my blog you can pick subjects of interest. To do this, look on the right side below my Bio and Followers to LABELS. You can click on any label and it will show you all the blogs on that subject - just scroll down through them. I just clicked on Marriage and it shows all 50 or so that I've done. When you get to the end click on OLDER POSTS and it will give you more or it will tell you that's all. On this subject I clicked Older Posts three or four times. So you can choose what to read on any subject listed! Isn’t that cool?                                                                                                          

Follow Me. To be a follower, click on the area on the right side where it says Follow by Email. You can do this publicly or privately. They will give directions for this after you click. It should then send you a weekly email with my latest one. If you have a blog and become a follower of mine our blogs will be linked.

Make a Comment. At the bottom of each post is a button for comments. Life is busy. Comment only when you have an overwhelming desire. How?  Click comments, give your email address, and type in your comment.

That's about it. Thanks for checking out my blog.

He who gets wisdom loves his own soul, he who cherishes understanding prospers. Proverbs 19:8

Blessings, Dottie

PRACTICE GRATITUDE

Q.  I know that thinking positively is best for our health and well-being but I have a hard time doing this. I start out in a positive frame of mind and then my kids start arguing, my boss gets critical, the traffic is terrible and the cares of the day just get to me. What’s the secret of learning to think positively? How can anyone who is sick or faced with a tragedy think positively?

A. Positive thinking is a health giving trait which we all need to learn. Even though there have been books written on the subject, there is a one word answer to how to become a positive thinking person. The word is “Gratitude.” If you practice gratitude you will learn positive thinking.

Hazen G. Werner in his book Live With Your Emotions, tells of a woman who had run out of hope. She felt trapped and despairing. One night in the midst of this she cried out “Thank you, God, anyway.” For a moment she felt better. She began to thank God more and her mood lightened. Soon she able to be grateful for several hours at a time and her hope grew.

       

David, who wrote most of the Psalms in the Bible, gives us a model of how to practice gratitude. In the midst of intense difficulties including despairing inner struggles David bursts forth with gratitude for every blessing. He is very human in his struggles with difficulties, even wondering where God is at times yet he continues to practice gratitude. 

       

How can we be grateful in the midst of tragic circumstances? How can we be grateful when we are sick and in pain or when we suffer major losses? We will need to cry and grieve and be upset but we can also look for and count our blessings in the midst of tragedy.

       

Thomas Edison, the genius inventor, lost his laboratory in a blazing fire in December 1914. The next morning, as he walked in the smoldering rubble he said, “There is great value in disaster. All our mistakes are burned up. Thank God, we can start anew.” 

When things go well we take our blessings for granted. We even take credit for much that has been given to us by God or with the help of others. When tragedy strikes, big or small it forces us to recognize what’s important in life; that we need God and that we need each other. The tragedy thus becomes a blessing. 

There is a legend about a day when the sun didn’t appear. It was dark at eight AM, still dark at nine AM , ten AM, noon. By four PM people had gone to their churches to pray for the sun to return. The next morning crowds congregated outside to watch the eastern sky. When the first rays of sunlight streaked the sky the people burst into cheers and applause. They felt so grateful.

       

Minor annoyances of daily life are often more difficult to look on with gratitude than are major trials. We rise to meet a tough challenge yet let petty annoyances drag us down. Gratitude is still the key. If we count our blessings every day we will be better able to recognize the smallness of the annoyances. 

       

Learning a grateful attitude takes practice. This Thanksgiving Day let’s all practice gratitude and keep it up in the days and months ahead.

“Always be joyful. Pray continually, and give thanks whatever happens.That is what God wants for you in Christ Jesus.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16

Blessings, Dottie

Psalm 119 Meditations and Prayers Relating to the Law of God

This is the eighteenth section of Psalm 119 – the longest chapter and the longest Psalm in the Bible. There are 8 different terms referring to Scripture used through out. These are: law, testimonies, precepts, statutes, commandments, judgments, word and ordinances.

Tsadhe.

¹³⁷ Righteous are You, O Lord, And upright are Your judgments.

Father, You are right and true, my Lord,

And Your ways are good and just

                                                                                           

¹³⁸ You have commanded Your testimonies in righteousness

 And exceeding faithfulness.
 Your commands and your word are good and just,   And teach us to be faithful to you.

¹³⁹ My zeal has consumed me,Because my adversaries have forgotten Your word. My utter devotion to you consumes me,But skeptics have forgotten you and your words.

¹⁴⁰ Your word is very pure,Therefore Your servant loves it.
 Your word is so very pure and true,So your child of faith loves it.

¹⁴¹ I am small and despised,Yet I do not forget Your precepts.
 Even though my influence is small and even disliked,I will not forget your word or you.

¹⁴² Your righteousness is an everlasting righteousness,  And Your law is truth.
 Father your goodness and mercy are eternally good and merciful, and your law is truth.

¹⁴³ Trouble and anguish have come upon me,Yet Your commandments are my delight.
 Trouble and difficulty visit me,Yet your word and laws are my joy.

¹⁴⁴ Your testimonies are righteous forever;Give me understanding that I may live.

 Father, your words are eternally good and trueGive me spiritual understanding that I may live in Christ. Blessings, Dottie 

Two Books about the Secret Service

Here are two fascinating books about the Secret Service who guard the President of the United States day in and day out.

Five Presidents: An Extraordinary Journey with Eisenhower, Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, and Ford

By Clint Hill

Clint Hill is a member of the Secret Service, an elite and highly disciplined group who protects and guards the leaders of our country. Hill details his experiences with five presidents. This is both fascinating and horrifying to read as history unfolds on every page – history I have lived through! There is much to learn about our country, the five presidents and about the job of the Secret Service men. Their work demands long hours, careful preparation of every location the president visits or lives in and vigilant eyes while in crowds of people.

Hill tells his own story – how his service affects him throughout these decades. He is traumatized by the Kennedy assassination as he attempts to protect both the president and his wife. He rides on the back of the open vehicle as the shots ring out from the Book Depository in Dallas. Following this he is assigned to protect Mrs. Kennedy and remains with her for a year afterward. The book gives insights into the personality of each president and also details the many events of this tumultuous period including the Vietnam War with all the protests, the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr., Bobby Kennedy and Watergate.

I am most impressed with the humility and dedication of the Secret Service. They work with world renowned leaders with daily exposure in the media yet remain in the background, silent observers true to their purpose.

Here are the five presidents:

Dwight Eisenhower – Republican –1958 - second year of his term

John Kennedy – Democrat     1961-1963

Lyndon Johnson – Democrat 1963-1968

Richard Nixon – Republican 1968-1974

Gerald Ford – Republican 1974-1978

*                *

In the President’s Secret Service: Behind the Scenes with Agents in the Line of Fire and the Presidents They Protect

By Ronald Kessler

In the President’s Secret Service the New York Times author, Ron Kessler, interviewed more than one hundred agents past and present. He gives much information about the Secret Service organization and the problems and frustrations of the men who guard our presidents and other dignitaries. Kessler offers a glimpse into the character and kindness or lack of it by many our presidents and president’s wives from Kennedy through Obama.

There is gripping detail about assassination attempts on the presidents, problems with preventing an attack and more. He details the ways in which the management of the Secret Service in recent years (2009 and before) has rigidly prevented agents from transferring to other areas and has added more and more work without additional agents or money to do the job. This, he believes puts our presidents at risk. The book borders on gossipy yet also gives much needed transparency to the office of President of the United States. A listing of Secret Service Dates and a complete index are helpful for referring back to specific people or events.

In reading both books it is obvious our culture has changed a great deal and many agents may have quit rather than sacrifice being with their family a reasonable amount of time. Both books are fascinating.

Blessings, Dottie