+ The Good Life

Summer Boardwalk / Terry Rettig

Sometimes I journey to the beach
To reflect on what's within
The trip pulls joy into my reach
In losses I find wins

I let my mind just drift and go
As I walk upon the boards.
Laughing gulls put on air shows.
Kites tugging on their cords

The surfers twisting, riding waves
Earned by paddling out through surf
Sunbathers soaking up the rays
Towels claim their sandy turf

Children braving cold, wade in
Ocean lapping at their knees
Raising goose bumps on their skin
When they're kissed by ocean breeze

Tall ships on reach go blowing by
Hide and seek behind  the waves
White clouds skirt an azure sky
Life guards scan for soggy saves

Vigilant Mothers holding fast
To their toddler's lotioned hands
Sinew'd runners loping past
Treasure hunters screening sand

Older folks on a leisure stroll
Wearing over sized sun hats
Barefoot boys, summer toughened soles
Swinging yellow plastic bats

Sand appears as if its bleached
And the sun endorphins brains
I love the boardwalk and the beach
They cleanse my daily strains

He gifts us all that our eyes see
And everything we can feel
This shows His love for you and me
Further proof that He is real.
               - Terry Rettig

Christmas Morning

Winter’s crystal stars are gleaming
O’er the frozen silver lake
In the velvet black of Heaven
Waiting for the dawn to break.
In the village snow is falling,
Gently making white the ground;
In the distance owls are calling,
Darkness lingers all around.

Slowly comes at last the morning,
Waking up the tired earth,
Filling hearts with peace and glory
And the wonder of His birth.
Christmas bells are softly ringing;
In the air are sounds of cheer.
Angel voices now are singing
Christmas songs for all to hear.

Christmas Eve / Carol Lou Lovgren

I stood  by my window at midnight—
Tired but happy—and thankful too
That the preparations were finished,
And I’d done all I’d planned to do.

The tree looked really splendid
With its colored lights aglow,
And the living room was festive
With plants and mistletoe.

The children were peacefully sleeping
And “Santa Claus” dozed in his chair,
Tired from the many excursions
To bring down the gifts from up there.

The goodies for feasting were ready;
The holly wreath hung on the door.
We’d filled the red Christmas stockings
And piled the gifts on the floor,

Thankful to grant fondest wishes—
Anticipating delight,
Happy that loved ones would gather
To make our Christmas just right.

It was like a Christmas card outside—
Bright stars and sparkling snow,
With each home all gaily lighted
To enhance the holiday glow.

I was filled with Christmas spirit
As I looked on the lovely sight.
Then one star seemed to grow larger,
And I thought of that long ago night

When a star led kings and shepherds
To a Babe asleep in the hay.
Let us never fail to remember
Why we celebrate Christmas Day!

                                                                                                                     - Harriet Whipple

What To Do This Christmas (and every day) / Anne MacCormack

Mend a quarrel.
Seek out a forgotten friend. 
Dismiss suspicion, and replace it with trust. 
Share some treasure.  Encourage youth. 
Manifest your loyalty in word and deed.
Give a soft answer.  Decry complacency. 
Keep a promise.  Find the time
Forego a grudge.  Forgive an enemy.
Listen.  Apologize if you were wrong..  Try to understand.
Examine your demands on others. 
Think first of someone else.  Appreciate others.  Be kind. 
Be gentle.  Laugh a little.  Laugh a little more.
Express your gratitude.  Worship the Lord,
Go to church., Welcome a stranger.
Take pleasure in the beauty and wonder of the earth.
Speak of your love.  Speak it again.

 Christmas is a celebration, and there is no celebration that compares with the realization of its true meaning—with the stirring of the heart that has extended itself toward the core of life.  Then, and only then, is it possible to grasp the significance of that first Christmas—to savor in the inward ear the sweet music of the angel choir; to envision the star-struck sky, and glimpse, behind the eyelids, the ray of light that fell athwart a darkened path and changed the world.

—Author Unknown

Legend of the Candy Cane / Nancy Burkitt

A candy maker in Indiana wanted to make a candy that would remind people of the true meaning of Christmas; so he made the candy cane to incorporate several symbols for the birth, ministry, and death of Jesus Christ. He began with a stick of pure white, hard candy - white to symbolize the virgin birth and the sinless nature of Jesus, and hard to symbolize the solid rock, the foundation of the Church, and the firmness of the promises of God.

The candy maker then shaped his cane into the form of a "J" to represent the precious name of Jesus, who came to the earth as Savior. Turned upside down, it  could also represent the staff of the "Good Shepherd" with which He reaches down to reclaim the fallen lambs who, like sheep, have gone astray.

Thinking that the candy was somewhat plain, the candy maker stained it with red stripes. He used three small stripes to show the stripes of the scourging Jesus received. The large red stripe was for the blood shed by Christ on the cross so that we could have the promise of eternal life.

Unfortunately, the candy became known as a candy cane—a meaningless Christmas decoration.  But the meaning may be there for those who have “eyes to see and ears to hear.”  Every time  you see a candy cane, remember the wonder of  Jesus and His Great Love that came down at Christmas, and that His Love remains the ultimate and dominant force in the universe today.