Hello everyone,
Evelyn here. I have had a very busy week and a bout of the flu, but with medication and rest, I should be well soon. I was checking my email this evening and found the following story. It is a little story about the real reason we celebrate Christmas and how easy it is for so many of us the forget. The story is entitled "Remember My Birthday!" and was originally emailed by Wayne. Enjoy and reflect.
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"Remember My Birthday????!!!!!!
"As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year
there is
a celebration in my honor
and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During
this
time there are many people
shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials,
and
in every part of
the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and
closer.
It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people
think
of me. As you know,
the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people
seemed
to understand and be
thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems
to
know the reason for the
celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but
they
don't know the
meaning of the celebration.
I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The
dinner
table was full of delicious
foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates.
The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully
wrapped
gifts. But, do you
want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and
they
didn't remember to
send me an invitation.
The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside,
they
closed the door in my
face......... and I wanted to be with them and share their table.
In truth, that didn't surprise me because for many of the past years
now,
all close their doors to me.
Since I was not invited, I decided to enter the party without making
any
noise. I went in and stood
in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and
telling jokes and laughing
at everything. They were having a great time. To top it all, this big
fat
man all dressed in red wearing
a long white beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho!
He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying : "Santa
Claus,
Santa Claus"... as if the
party were in his honor!
At 12 midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my
arms
waiting for someone
to hug me and .... do you know .... no one hugged me.
Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one
with
great expectation. When
all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me.
What
would you feel if on
your birthday, everybody shared gifts and you did not get one? I then
understood that I was
unwanted at that party and quietly left.
Every year it gets worse. People only remember to eat and drink, the
gifts,
the parties and nobody
remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter
into
your life. I would like
that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came
to
this world to give my life
for you, on the cross, to save you.
Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart. I want to
share something with you. As
many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own celebration, a
grandiose party that no one
has ever imagined, a spectacular party.
I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many
invitations and there is an invitation
for you. I want to know if you wish to attend and I will make a
reservation
for you and write your
name with golden letters in my great guest book. Only those on the
guest
list will be invited to the
party. Those who don't answer the invitation, will be left outside.
Do you know how you can answer this invitation? It is by extending it
to
others whom you care for...
I'll be waiting for all of you to attend my party this year...
.... I love you!
-Jesus- "
