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Christmas is a season like none other, and central to its celebrations is gathering. From near and far, down the street and around the world, we gather as family, friends, and neighbors to sing and to make memories, to share love and gifts, to warm ourselves in the sweet glow of the season. It’s as […]
And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judea, unto the city of […]
During this season we celebrate "peace on earth,” yet some of us find it the most busy and stressful time of the year. We worry about decorations and decking the halls, gifts and gatherings—and the many other things we feel we need to do. And, very often, amid all the hustle and bustle, we have a quiet sense that we want to make our celebrations a little different, a little more meaningful than they have been in the past.
At this festive time of year, we go to great lengths to assure that we have a happy holiday. Family traditions take on special meaning as we prepare favorite foods, light candles, hang ornaments on the Christmas tree, and sing the carols of the season. We do all this because we want to have a […]
As any child will tell you, the holidays are a time of eager expectation. Looking forward with hope has defined Christmas for many generations. Indeed, the anticipation of coming events is one of the season’s great joys. Who has not felt the thrill of opening a flap on an advent calendar, breaking a link in […]
In the lunchroom of a busy workplace, groups of employees were eating and visiting with one another at a dozen different tables. Suddenly one man stood, panic in his eyes. He was choking and couldn’t call for help. As he began turning blue, alarm spread through the crowd. But for several agonizing moments, no one […]
In the early morning hours of November 11, 1918, representatives of the Allied nations met in a railroad car near Compiègne, France, to sign an armistice ending what was being called the Great War. Meanwhile, somewhere in the trenches in France, shellings and bombings were proceeding as they had for the past four years. In […]
According to a traditional story, when English statesman Oliver Cromwell first saw his portrait, he insisted that it be repainted. His objection was that the painting portrayed him with a clear and flawless complexion. “Where are the warts?” he asked. The custom at the time was for portrait artists to idealize their subjects. Cromwell, however, […]
We live in a competitive world where everyone experiences something of winning and losing. Who has never tasted both sweet victories and bitter defeats? We’ve all had our moments. We tend to pay more attention to the winners, but how we respond to the disappointments and the successes says much of our character. Graceful winning […]
What does it take to jump into something new and come out triumphant? Why do some embark into uncharted territory with ease while others flounder? An answer may be found in studying the expedition of Lewis and Clark, who two centuries ago, with their Shoshone guide Sacajawea and 32 hearty men, set out to chart […]
It’s been said that “harboring resentment is like taking poison and then waiting for the other person to die.” Keeping a mental list of those who have offended or hurt us serves no good purpose. When we allow ourselves to be resentful, we only harm ourselves. A middle-aged man learned this much too late in […]
In these troubled times, it’s reassuring to know that God is in His heaven, watching over His children. This promise is perhaps best expressed in the Psalms: “He that keepeth thee . . . shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper.” The Good Shepherd is vigilant by day and by night. When […]
In these troubled times, it’s reassuring to know that God is in His heaven, watching over His children. This promise is perhaps best expressed in the Psalms: “He that keepeth thee . . . shall neither slumber nor sleep. The Lord is thy keeper.” The Good Shepherd is vigilant by day and by night. When […]
Noise seems to be a constant part of modern life. Everywhere we go, for much of the day, we hear clatter and clamor, jangle and din. Though there are times when we long for peace and quiet, for many noise has become a habit. Perhaps we enter an empty room and turn on the radio […]
Three mothers were sitting together at a school ballgame. Two of them were gushing about their children’s talents and latest achievements. One’s son had just won an athletic scholarship, and another’s daughter had just been chosen as valedictorian. The third mother’s son had no such accomplishments, but she seemed unruffled, even happy about the success […]
As a child in 19th-century England, William Ernest Henley suffered tuberculosis of the bone. Eventually the disease infected him so severely that doctors had to amputate his leg below the knee in order to save his life when he was 25. Despite his disability and continuing illnesses, he led a relatively active and productive life […]
At this very moment, somewhere across the earth, the sun is rising on a new day. And somewhere else, the sun is setting on a day just completed. Dawn to dusk, day to night, we move forward along life’s pathway. Amid change and confusion, life gives us a few things upon which we can depend, […]
I’ll tell you how the sun rose,—A ribbon at a time,” wrote poet Emily Dickinson.1 Like ribbons of beauty and wonder gently unfolding, each morning offers us the gift of another new day. In the silence and splendor of the morning, we can expand our perspective and see more possibilities, more prospects, more chances to […]
On a cold, threatening morning, February 11, 1861, Abraham Lincoln, president-elect of the United States of America, stood on the rear platform of a train that would take him from his home in Springfield, Illinois, to Washington, the nation’s capital. The dreary weather was a fitting preview of what Lincoln would soon face as president—in […]
A recurring theme of poets, prophets, and sages across the generations is that we must never forget the source of our blessings. Moses warned ancient Israel, “Beware lest thou forget the Lord, which brought thee forth out of the land of Egypt.”1 Thousands of years later, at the height of the British Empire, Nobel-prize winning […]
In 1952 Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer released what is now considered one of the best musicals ever made, Singin’ in the Rain. This great love story is also a story about adapting to change—it depicts the transition in the 1920s from silent movies to “talkies.” Imagine what a change that must have been! Indeed, the adage is true: […]
It’s a hobby focused on obscure dates and places from hundreds of years ago. Yet it is so popular today it has eclipsed stamp collecting, coin collecting, and even gardening as one of the world’s favorite pastimes. Whether you call it family history or genealogy, the pursuit of finding one’s ancestry has filled libraries with […]
Everyone has pioneer ancestry. No matter who you are or where you came from, someone somewhere came before you. Their steps of faith have paved the way for a better life for us and have given us solid ground on which to take our own steps of faith. During the spring of 1864, a small […]
It’s interesting how two people can approach similar circumstances with entirely different outlooks. The optimist tries to look on the bright side, believes that good days are ahead, and holds on to the hope that things will get better. The pessimist sees dark rain clouds even on sunny days and believes that the best has […]
A gray-haired man, a little bent with age, stood as tall as he could with his hand over his heart as his country’s flag passed by. Standing next to him, his grandson noticed a tear run down the old man’s cheek. “Grandpa,” he said, “Are you OK? Why are you crying?” “I’m just fine,” replied […]
The sweet music of love changes everything within us and around us; it opens our hearts in a way that nothing else can. Even in the midst of life’s challenges and difficulties, love fills us with a sense of gratitude, hope, and renewal. It’s like a wonderful song that never ends. When questioned about fame […]
From time to time we hear great artists or athletes described as “Renaissance men.” Society marvels at the variety of their accomplishments—a football player who also excels as a musician or a writer who can also paint. We admire people who can switch hats and shine in more than one arena. But in our quest […]
Nobody makes it through life without making mistakes. Some are harmless, but others can be dangerous. Most often, safety lies in being cautious and wise. We don’t usually get into trouble without disregarding a rule of safety or some code of behavior. Danger lurks on the other side of a warning. Maybe it’s a No […]
More than 2,000 years ago, when readers were few and books were fewer, the Roman philosopher Cicero observed, “A home without books is a body without a soul.”¹ Today, books are much more accessible, and yet they are often shelved away behind booming entertainment centers and forgotten in dusty boxes. Sadly, the love of reading […]
It has been said that “a land without ruins is a land without memories—a land without memories is a land without history.”iEach nation has its stories, its triumphs and tragedies, its battle scars and memorials. Not only do they define our past, they also shape our present and future. Without memories and memorials, we wouldn’t […]