Christmas Story

About two thousand years ago, in the town of Nazareth, there lived a young woman named Mary. She was engaged to be married to Joseph, a carpenter. One day an angel appeared before her and told her she had been chosen to have a special baby. The baby would be God's son and she must call him Jesus. Soon after the angel's visit, Mary and Joseph were married. Mary was due to have her baby when they were told they had to go on a long journey to Bethlehem, which was where Joseph came from.This was because they had to pay a special tax. Mary had to ride on a donkey for a few days over the hills of Gallilee. At last Mary and Joseph arrived in Bethlehem. It was crowded with other people who needed to pay their taxes. Mary was very tired and needed a place to stay. At each inn, the story was the same. There was no room for them. Eventually, one kind innkeeper said he had a stable where he kept his animals. They were welcome to stay there. And so it was that a few hours later, Mary gave birth to her son in that stable. She wrapped Jesus in strips of cloth and laid Him in a manger full of hay. At the same time, on a hillside overlooking Bethlehem, some shepherds were watching over their sheep. A bright light appeared in the sky. They were very afraid. It was an angel sent by God. The angel told them not to be afraid, because he had some good news. He said the Son of God had been born and they would find Him in Bethlehem. The shepherds wanted to go and see the baby. When they arrived at the stable, they were filled with joy at seeing Jesus lying in the manger. They knelt down and worshipped Him. They told Mary and Joseph how the angel had appeared in the sky and told them that Jesus was to be the Saviour of the world. Far away in the East, Wise Men saw a new star shining high in the sky. These men studied the stars and they knew this was a very special star. They studied their scrolls where it said that whenever a bright new star appeared it meant that a great ruler had been born. The Wise Men decided to find this new ruler. They went to Jerusalem to see King Herod, as they thought the baby would be in the palace. They asked to see the child that would be King of the Jews. The king was troubled. He thought this new king may take away his throne. He told them to return when they had found the baby so that he could worship the child himself. The Wise Men set off to find the baby. They were guided by the star to the stable in Bethlehem. Here they knelt down and worshipped Jesus. They gave him gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. That night, the men had the same dream where an angel warned them that King Herod wanted to kill Jesus and told them not to go back to his palace. The Wise Men went back to their own country without calling to see Herod. Soon after Joseph had a dream where an angel told him to take Mary and Jesus to Egypt as King Herod had ordered that Jesus be killed. They left Bethlehem right away. When the wise men did not return, Herod ordered that baby boys in Bethlehem be killed. They did not find Jesus as he was safe.

Five Steps to Enjoying Christmas

No matter whether you look forward to Christmas or dread it, the holiday season is upon us once again. For those who anticipate this time of year, it's wonderful. But for those who dread the holidays the coming days and weeks can be a real struggle. Christmas, along with most holidays, is often portrayed as a family holiday, leaving singles feeling a bit uncertain as to where they fit into the picture. But the portrayal of Christmas as a family holiday is grossly inaccurate. Jesus Christ came to the earth as a baby in order to bring salvation for every person, married or single, young or old, with parents or orphaned, childless or having a house full. Ironically, the baby whose birthday we celebrate never became a husband or father, never had a home of His own, and felt out of place in His own home town. If anyone can identify with Jesus, the single person can. So those who are married don't have a monopoly on Christmas as we singles so often assume. Christmas is for everyone. So what do we do to make this season a celebration, in spite of the emphasis on family all around us? The following five steps are just a few of the many ways to keep a joyful heart: Step 1: Assess Our Expectations The ugly green monster of jealousy is quick to rear it's ugly head when we think that life must be perfect for the person on the other side of the proverbial fence. The man or woman who has a loving spouse and beautiful children may be struggling with something difficult which we know nothing about. Just this past week at the doctor's office, a married woman with children confided in me that this time of year puts her in a bad mood. There's too much to do and not enough time to do it. She's glad when January rolls around and all the hustle and bustle is over for another year. So, just as married people don't have a monopoly on celebrating Christmas, so singles don't have a monopoly on dreading it! It's important to remind ourselves of this, and to reduce our expectations of what Christmas is "supposed" to be. This isn't just a problem for singles, married people need to lower their expectations for a perfect Christmas also. Step 2: Slay the Dragon of Self-Pity with Thankfulness Make it a rule for yourself this year that you won't allow yourself to indulge in self-pity. Once allowed room in our hearts, self-pity can soon consume us and spoil every bit of pleasure that God has given us. As soon as those thoughts come, rebuke them and replace them with a prayer of thankfulness for what you do have. Everyone has something to be thankful for, and remember - the most important part of Christmas is for everyone. Step 3: Do Something to Make Christmas Special for Someone Else All of us likely know someone who may be spending Christmas alone, or who may not have enough money for gifts for their children, whom we can help in some way. If we don't personally know anyone like this, most nursing homes have individuals who have few visitors. Those who work there are usually glad to make it known who needs some Christmas cheer. When you're out and about, smile at those you see. Find opportunities to pass on warm and cheery greetings to those in the check-out lines with you, the cashier, and your neighbors. You never know who may be struggling with the holidays and need a bit of encouragement. You could make their day with just a smile or a cheerful comment. And, something we often overlook are the families we do have: parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters, nieces and nephews. Children especially bring out the joy in Christmas and we don't have to have children of our own in order to enjoy Christmas through their eyes. If you don't have nieces and nephews, perhaps you can adopt a few at church, or learn to know your friends' children. Help a child to enjoy Christmas, and you'll inevitably find some enjoyment yourself.

Step 4: Count Our Blessings Perhaps you're feeling like this is getting a bit too Pollyanna-like, and this step takes the cake! But wait, before you stop reading, consider this: what alternatives do we have to listing the many blessings God has given us? We can slip further into depression and despondency, or we can become numb and without feeling. Neither are appealing prospects. Making a list of the blessings we can celebrate this Christmas season keeps our focus where it should be, on what we do have rather than what we don't have. Most of us have just as many blessings as those on the other side of the fence. We've just focused so long and so often on their blessings that we find it difficult to see our own. No doubt those who are married find themselves doing the same thing. Step 5: Keep Christ the Center of Christmas Alright, I admit it, that's another overused cliche. I'm convinced, though, that it's overused because it's so very important. And again, everyone needs to make Christ the center of their Christmas. The busier we are with Christmas preparations, the easier it is to forget the importance of what we are celebrating. Christmas is not about gifts, it's not about the twinkling eyes of children, it's not about a Christmas tree and special cookies and a family gathered around a feast on Christmas Day. It's about Christ and about what He came to give us. Take time to read the Christmas story several times in the next few weeks, and then read the Easter story also to keep in mind why Christ came. Set up a small nativity in a spot where you see it often and enjoy it with any children who may come to visit. I followed my Mother's example and bought a plastic set, so that my nieces and nephews could arrange and rearrange the characters without fear of breaking them. I have many fond memories of doing the same as a child with my Mother's nativity set. I trust that these ideas will trigger some of your own. Much as we'd sometimes like to, we can't bury our heads in the sand and pretend that Christmas, Valentine's Day, and Mother's and Father's Days don't exist. The reminders are everywhere and we can't escape them. What we can do, though, is determine to enjoy them in our own ways, establishing our own traditions and refusing to succumb to the idea that they are only for those who are married. My most meaningful Christmas ever was the one when I initially felt despair, but in a special moment at a Christmas Eve service, realized anew that when Christ came to earth, He came because He loved me. Poem : The True Meaning Of Christmas Christmas comes but once a year And to many one thing is very clear For many its all about the shopping spree Or even decorating the Christmas tree For He is our Savior and our teacher too For he taught us all that we must do To be as He was while on this Earth For we must follow him for all we are worth

The Christmas lights many a house adorn Whilst a few Scrooges walk by looking forlorn But there is more to Christmas than meets the eye The path may not be easy that is true A lot more than just eating some fruit mince pie But better the hardships than hell to queue Its a story about a child born in a manger The rewards are great and so we Born there because his parents fled the danger strive For King Herod made the decree all baby boys to die reach the end to be truly alive To Scared was he that the birth of Jesus meant his time was nigh Its a story of the love of our Father For He Loved us so much that hed rather Sacrifice his Son so that all who believed The real reason why Jesus was conceived So this Christmas when loved ones are near Remember the true reason for the Christmas cheer Its that we all get together to celebrate

Sing Children identify where their voices come from and how sounds are made and formed. They get the opportunity to develop rhythm and timing, improving diction, alongside learning popular show songs. Dance Working in a group, children learn fun and contemporary routines, which help improve coordination, balance and spatial awareness, while developing strong motor skills. Drama Through role play and improvisation young children get to stretch their imagination, experimenting with words and feelings. By interacting with others in the group they learn vital social skills such as giving, taking and sharing. In themed fantasy worlds and through storytelling kids can express themselves physically and emotionally, learning new words and phrases while memorising lines through repetition.

The Benefits of Music

Kids who grow up hearing music, singing songs, and moving to the beat are enjoying what experts call "a rich sensory environment." That's just a fancy way of saying they're exposed to a wide variety of tastes, smells, textures, colors, and sounds. And researchers believe this forges more pathways between the cells in their brains. Musical experiences are an important way to help create these pathways, also called neural connections. And while listening to music is certainly key to creating them, it's when kids actively participate in music that they make the strongest connections.

Growing Up, Growing Musically

Preschoolers develop a catalog of songs, from "Happy Birthday" to "Old MacDonald." They begin by singing portions of favorite songs, sometimes substituting different words or rhythms. Eventually, they can sing entire songs, although the pitch may be off. You've probably noticed that your preschooler can keep a steady beat. You can help your child practice this skill by encouraging listening for beats and determining if they're steady or not in everyday objects. For example, point out the noise a kitchen clock makes and ask your child if it is a steady beat; then ask if a sound like a car horn or a dog barking has a steady beat. Practice clapping or tapping the beats to favorite songs and encourage your child to copy you.

Let's Dance
The simplest thing you can do is put on music and dance with your child. Vary the rhythms and tempo of your body with the music. Practice "copy dancing" where you invite your child to imitate your movements and then let him or her lead as you follow. You also can make the musical experience more visual through movement and a few props. Scarves can show ascending and descending pitches raise the scarves up over your heads as you sing up the scale and then drop them down the floor as you go down. Or have your child walk on tiptoes when you listen to high, quiet music, and stomp his or her feet to louder, slower music. Combining music and movement helps preschoolers learn to control their bodies. They learn to move fast to fast music, and more slowly to slow tunes. They also can learn the hand movements and simple dance moves that go along with rhymes and songs. Learning physical control is an important developmental step and can help build concentration skills and self-control later on. A child should always say what's true, And speak when he is spoken to, And behave mannerly at table: At least as far as he is able.
Children are like wet cement. Whatever falls on them makes an impression. The child must know that he is a miracle, that since the beginning of the world there hasn't been, and until the end of the world there will not be, another child like him.