———- Forwarded message ———-
From: JUNE CERRETA
Date: Mon, Dec 27, 2010 at 5:14 AM
Subject: Fw: The W in Christmas
> The "W" in Christmas [Author unknown]
>
> 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,
>
> "C H R I S T M A S L O V E."
>
>
> 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, I believe, He still is. Amazed in His
presence …. Humbled by His love.
>
>
>
>
Again, HAVE A BLESSED HOLIDAY SEASON
>
> Merry Christmas
Everyone!
>
From: JUNE CERRETA
Date: Mon, Dec 27, 2010 at 5:14 AM
Subject: Fw: The W in Christmas
To:
THANKS TO THE LOVE AND HELP FROM MY FAMILY I HAD A
WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!!!
WONDERFUL CHRISTMAS!!!
> The "W" in Christmas [Author unknown]
>
> 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,
>
> "C H R I S T M A S L O V E."
>
>
> 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, I believe, He still is. Amazed in His
presence …. Humbled by His love.
>
>
>
>
Again, HAVE A BLESSED HOLIDAY SEASON
>
> Merry Christmas
Everyone!
>