JOSHUA TIME 680

The "w" in Christmas> >> >This is truly a great story related by the mother of a youngster.> >> >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 ten 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 C. 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:> >> >"C H R I S T W A S L O V E"> >> >And, He still is> >He is the reason for this season> >> > _