"Christmas Love"

Because we homeschool, we take full advantage of the freedom to study pretty much what we want, when we want. In the month of December we veer completely away from traditional studies and study about Christmas. How it is celebrated in other parts of the country. We bake and research and make things to give away. We study customs and traditions and just really relax the studying.

In going through my files of Christmas related studies, I found a little story that I obviously got through an e-mail or off the internet or something.

This isn't going to teach anyone a thing about history or math or English or science. It isn't going to improve your IQ one bit, but I hope it strikes a cord in your heart as it did ours...

The "W" in Christmas

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 over-spending.

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 it's 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 "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 "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...

Blessings......