Fra Angelico Annunciation (detail) 1433-34, Museo Diocesano, Cortona.

"do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favour with God. And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus."

One can almost hear the groans. Surely, not again, so soon! I just got last year's Christmas paid for. I hate the crowds. Who do I have to buy for this year? They never like what I buy! All the kids think about is what they're going to get... and on and on the lament goes. Why do we do what we do? Why do we put ourselves through so much that we dislike? Why do we spend so much money that we do not have only to make payments that we cannot afford? Who says we have to? ...

Tradition? Aunt Susie? The kids? The advertisers? Who decides?

Isn't it sad that such a joyous time of year should be one filled with so much drudgery? Well, how about giving a little thought toward changing the old attitude? With a little bit of ingenuity one can come up with new ways to celebrate that will make this truly one of the most blessed events of all the year. Remember, the season is to celebrate HIS birth. The sad thing about it is, HE is usually forgotten.

Why not wrap your celebration around HIM this year. Give Jesus a party! After all, it is His birthday. Getting ready for the party can be as much fun as the party itself.

Decorating can be simple. Let the kids get involved. String popcorn and cranberries. Make ornaments for the tree. And if you can't afford a tree, paint a bare branch gold and hang your homemade ornaments on that. So, they aren't perfect. Which will be the most remembered? The perfect look or the ones the kids get involved in? Besides, if it is done in love for Him, He will think it is perfect!

Do something special as a family for someone else. Perhaps you know an elderly person that will most likely be alone. Making their day will certainly make yours. Or how about a family that has had lots of sickness or other misfortune and just won't be able to make the budget for Christmas this year. Invite them over for a meal on Christmas. You won't need gifts. Let your guest or guests tell stories about their life. Teach your children the joy of sharing and making another person's day glad. Remember Jesus said, Inasmuch as ye have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, ye have done it unto me. (Mt 25:40)

Make some cookies or make a batch of taffy. Even if it's runny it's good eaten with a spoon! Even raw cookie dough taste wonderful (at least most kids think so, remember Grandma's cookie dough?) And the kids will have a blast. Yes, it will make a mess but isn't Christmas about memories?

Read a Christmas story each evening about how others have enjoyed Christmas. All kinds of books are available on this subject. And don't forget the story of stories, the one from the Bible. Matthew 1:18-2:23 and Luke 1:1-2:52. Divide it up into several sections and share some each evening. Discuss how the characters in the story may have felt. Let the children give their opinions. Play act each part of the story. Sheets and robes make good costumes.

And on Christmas Day, have a birthday cake for Jesus and sing Happy Birthday to him! Tell Him what you would like to give Him but most of all... give Him your self.

Willetta has spent most of her life ministering to people. In her mid seventies, and a wheelchair now her mode of travel, she now ministers to people through the internet. Her webs are...
www.teachmethyways.org | www.successwithkids.org | www.theseedsower.org

1 cup butter, softened 2 cups sugar 3 eggs 6 cups flour 2 tsp. baking soda 1/2 tsp. salt 1 cup sour cream	FROSTING: 1/2 cup butter, softened 4 cups powdered sugar 3 Tbsp. milk Food coloring, optional

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Combine dry ingredients; add to the creamed mixture alternately with sour cream. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours or until easy to handle. On a floured surface, roll out dough to 1/4" thickness. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutters dipped in flour. Place 1" apart on greased baking sheets. Bake at 375 for 8-12 minutes or until lightly browned. For frosting, beat the butter, powdered sugar, and milk until smooth. Add food coloring if desired. Frost cookies. Yield: about 9 dozen.

Gift giving easily descends from fulfilling to frustrating as shoppers rush from store to store or Internet site to site, in search for perfect gifts for those they hold dear. If it is the thought that counts, why do we cloud our minds with dollar signs and disappointment in our choices?

Perfectionists feel pangs of guilt if they have lingering doubts about what to give each Christmas; what do they give to the person who seems to have everything? Some people are impossible to please, show no appreciation and yet we feel obligated to exchange gifts; it is the least we can do.

Wise men brought gifts to the King. How did they decide on the perfect gifts for royalty? "Entering the house, they saw the child with Mary His mother, and falling to their knees, they worshiped Him. Then they opened their treasures and presented Him with gifts: gold, frankincense, and myrrh (Matthew 2:11 HCS)."

Gold is a gift worthy of a king; priests used frankincense as incense in temple worship. Mourners anointed the dead with myrrh; wise men know it is never too early to face the reality of the brevity of life.

The wise man Nicodemus also brought the gift of myrrh to Jesus. "Nicodemus (who had previously come to Him at night) also came, bringing a mixture of about 75 pounds of myrrh and aloes. Then they took Jesus' body and wrapped it in linen cloths with the aromatic spices, according to the burial custom of the Jews (John 19:39-40 HCS)."

Jesus opened his heart to truth: you must be born again. (John 3:3) He demonstrated his faith and worship through offerings of myrrh as his final act of service. Wise men give the greatest gift to the giver of gifts. They worship Him!

With God all things are possible! Pam Ford Davis has published articles in Mature Living Magazine, Secret Place, Daily Devotionals for the Deaf, Light from the Word Daily Devotional.

Available now in book store: FORGET-ME-NOT DAILY DEVOTIONAL

Some people are so efficient and organized that they have purchased items throughout the year and merely need to gift-wrap, tag and hide away until Christmas Day. Multitudes will wait until the last minute and frantically search for something that will suffice and meet their obligations.

The Proverbs 31 Women Forum is asking
'What type of Christmas shopper are you?'