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Joyce B
“Away in a manger, no crib for a
bed...”
While eyes may occasionally
droop during a sermon, or minds
daydream through an offertory,
it’s rare that the appearance of the
Cherub Choir ever has less than
the undivided attention of our
church congregation.
With hearts and enthusiasm
stretching beyond their often tiny
heights, these youngest choristers
unfailingly coax smiles from us
“old folks.” And, if a voice is a
shade offkey, or words a bit
jumbled, the love and exuberance
that shines through these scrub
bed, smiling faces proclaims the
story of Christmas better than all
the marvelous, technological
wizardy of modem media could
ever begin to do.
Fact is, the simple words of that
beautiful children’s Christmas
song have a direct line to my
emotions. Two lines into the words,
and I start blinking pretty hard.
But the sweet voices of tiny
children touch me increasingly for
another reason, and more so this
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time of year. For Christmas is
especially a time for childhood
innocence, and of wide-eyed,
almost breathless, anticipation.
Wide-eyed innocence has
become a scarce commodity in our
household. We are, for most
practical purposes, a household of
grownups. A household of adults
lacks the seasonal spice that small
children bring to Christmas.
The traditional Santa visits and
lists of Christmas wishes exist no
more. We no longer focus on
stuffed bears and rollerskates,
namebrand dolls or miniature
farm machinery or toy trucks.
(Except for the “trucks” for a
battered skateboard deck.)
Still, a mother feels a need to fill
their stockings. But, what I’d
really like to wrap and ribbon for
them can’t be bought, not with
cash, check or credit card, not
from the mall or a discount store or
even through a catalog.
What I’d like to be able to gift
them with first is Compassion.
With a full package of Compassion,
the frailities, shortcomings,
disabilities and inabilities on which
we judge others could fade behind
the more important measure: each
individual’s own capabilities and
talents.
Next, it’d be nice to wrap up a
package of Patience. With a little
bit of calm waiting time
Patience seemingly in
surmountable problems
sometimes just disappear,
diminish to more solvable
proportions, or offer their own
solutions.
A super-duper, giant-size con
tainer of Common Sense is always
welcome, though sometimes
elusive to capture and tuck in the
toe of a knitted stocking hung at
the fireplace mantle. But a daily
dose of the stuff, clinging to one
like a gentle hint of perfume, helps
eliminate indecision, procrastina
tion, and occasionally even saves
one from making a total fool of
oneself (but not always!).
Nor dare we forget to add to this
gift pile a heaping box of Good
Humor with periodic smatterings
of Belly Laughs. With increasing
frequency, we read accounts of
how medical researchers are tying
good health with the ability to
laugh and enjoy life. Or maybe we
could just call laughter the butter
and salt on the popcorn of
everyday living.
Finally, if I could give them but
one lone gift, it would be a lengthy
measure of Faith. Faith. The
“sujbstance of things hoped for,
the evidence of things not seen,”
say the Scriptures. With a deep,
abiding Faith, man can endure
just about any hardship, any
torture, any uncertainty. Without
Faith, life simply has little
meaning.
And, after all, Faith is what
Christmas is all about, anyway.
Faith as simple and pure and
loving as that belonging to those
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Lancaster Farming, Saturday, December 20,1986-BS
adorable tousled-hair angels... er,
Cherub Choir singers... who
blessedly yank us back from
mental musings on material things
to renewed attention to what
Take Me Of Good Qualities
To Enhance
BY SALLY BAIR
Lancaster Co. Correspondent
LEBANON - In order to have
high self esteem, a person must
have the ability to recognize her
own good qualities.
Francine Gates, Lebanon County
Mental Health Association, said
the concept of self-esteem means
being aware of yourself “both
the good parts and the bad parts.”
Gates said, “We must realize that
it is okay not to be perfect, but that
everyone is worthy and has
something very unique.”
Gates offered her program on
helping people leam how they see
themselves through the Lebanon
County Extension Service through
a grant from the Lebanon County
commissioners.
Gates likened self esteem to a
glass which may be filled to
overflowing at times, or have a
leak that trickles out the bottom at
other times. There are also times,
according to Gates, when one’s
“glass” of self esteem may be
completely knocked over by
someone.
“Self esteem is learned,” Gates
said. “We are not bom with high or
low self-esteem.” She said a family
has a lot to do with a child’s self
esteem and sense of worth.
People with high self-esteem
have a high energy level, are
confident, optimistic, pleasant and
friendly and usually have good eye
contact and posture. People with
low self-esteem on the other hand,
are usually not much fun to be with
and are often a drain on those
around them.
Gates told her audipnf'e.
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Christinas is really about.
“....the little Lord Jesus asleep
in the hay.”
To you and yours, a most blessed
and peaceful Christmas.
Self-Esteem
“Feelings are one of the most
important things we own. They
belong to us and if we give that
away, we give away the power of
how we feel.” She commented,
“Don’t allow other people to make
you feel bad.”
Gates pointed out that people
who are not in charge of their lives
allow other people to make
decisions for them. “We decide
how we feel, not someone else.”
She recommended the fogging
technique for screening out
negatives. She told her audience to
imagine themselves surrounded by
fog and to let unkind remarks pass
without notice.
She said that society has taught
us to be modest, not egotistical, not
stuck-up and to put other people
before ourselves. For that reason,
it is difficult for some people to
recognize their good points. She
noted, “You must feel good about
yourself before you can accept
others.”
She said the most common areas
in which people put themselves
down are: intelligence, the ability
to be social, sexuality, physical
appearance, talents, skills,
spiritual life and the ability to earn
money.
Writing down positive attributes
helps people become aware of their
abilities, though Gates cautions
that most people have an easier
time writing down their bad points.
Gates said there is a difference
between self love, which is shown
by a person full of hostility and
arrogance, and love of self, which
is true humility.