 
Keeping Christmas
There is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day,
And that is, keeping Christmas.
Are you willing
To forget what you have done for other people,
And to remember what other people have done for you;
To ignore what the world owes you,
And to think what you owe the world;
To put your rights in the background,
And your duties in the middle distance,
And your chances to do a little more
Than your duty in the foreground;
To see that men and women are just as real as you are,
And try to look behind their faces to their hearts,
Hungry for joy;
To own up to the fact that probably the only good reason
For your existence is not what you are going to get out of life,
But what you are going to give to life;
To close your book of complaints
Against the management of the universe,
And look around you for a place
Where you can sow a few seeds
of happiness
Are you willing to do these things even for a day?
Then you can keep Christmas.
Are you willing to stoop down and consider
The needs and desires of little children;
To remember
The weakness and loneliness of people growing old;
To stop asking how much your friends love you,
And ask yourself whether you love them enough;
To bear in mind
The things that other people have to bear in their hearts; To try to understand
What those who live in the same home with you
really want, Without waiting for them to tell you;
To trim your lamp
so that it will give more light and less smoke,
And to carry it in front
So that your shadow will fall behind you;
To make a grave for your ugly thoughts,
And a garden for your kindly feelings
with the gate open
Are you willing to do these things, even for a day?
Then you can keep Christmas.
Are you willing to believe
That love is the strongest thing in the world
Stronger than hate,
stronger than evil,
Stronger than death
And that the blessed life
Which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago
Is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love?
Then you can keep Christmas.
And if you can keep it for a day,
Why not always?
But you can never keep it alone.
Henry Van Dyke
Blessings of Jesus Christ at Christmas
Starting page for "I Lift My Eyes Ministries" Christmas Pages. Peaceful graphics and insipirational writings, Christian Christmas stories, all centering on Jesus Christ, His birth and the true reason for the holiday season.
Christian Christmas Dinner Blessings, Prayers and Graces.
An index of Christmas prayers and blessings, suitable for Christmas dinner.
Christmas Resource Directory
This Resource Directory of Christmas links is full of websites that display warmth, charm and true Christmas spirit. You will find helps for Advent planning, sermons, Christmas graphics, carol lyrics, Christ centered celebrations, prophecy of the birth of Jesus Christ, etc If you find Christmas painful and stressful, you will find resources here as well.
I Lift My Eyes Christmas Shoppe
Find Christian themed books, unique and creative gifts, music, decor and resources for your home, church and office. Find everything from church supplies to stuffed animals, music and dvds, clothing and jewelry, cards, etc. Resources for Advent and preparing a Christ-Centred season!
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