Christmas Stories

Why Christmas Trees Aren't Perfect
-author unknown Long, long ago, in a land far away, lived a perfect little tree names Small Pine. Small pine hoped to maintain its perfect form and be selected by the Queen as her Christmas tree. But as the warmhearted little tree gave shelter to birds, rabbits, and deer n the forest, its branches became damaged. Fortunately, the Queen had a different idea of perfection. The Queen, Queen's family and al the villagers said that Small Pine was the finest Christmas tree yet. For in looking at its drooping, nibbled branches, they saw the protecting arm of their father or the comforting lap of a mother. And some, like the wise Queen saw the love of Christ expressed on earth. So if you walk among evergreens today, you will find, along with rabbits, birds and other happy living things, many trees like Small Pine. You will see a drooping limb which gives cover, a gap offering a warm resting place, or branches ragged from feeding hungry animals. For, as have many of us, the trees have learned that living for the sake of others makes us most beautiful in the eyes of God.

Tabby Markings
-author unknown Imagine, if you will that it's nearly 2,000 years ago and you are viewing the manger scene in Bethlehem. Many kings and famous personages of the time have come to see the newborn babe and to bring gifts. After a while, the baby grows tired and weary. He begins to fret and cry, as all babies sometimes do. His lovely young mother, Mary, only a teen-ager herself, attempts to quiet him, but his crying continues. She holds and rocks him. She sings a lullaby. She dangles a brilliant ornament before him to capture his attention and stop his tears. Alas, none of her efforts hush the baby. His crying goes on. While the anxious mother makes further unsuccessful attempts to soothe her upset child, a tabby cat quietly creeps into the stable. She sits a discreet distance from the cradle and begins to clean herself. Carefully and meticulously, she washes and grooms herself from the tip of her nose to the tip of her tail. When she's immaculate, without a single spot or smudge on her beautiful banded coat, she goes to Mary's side and rubs against her long blue robe. After the mother's acknowledgement of her presence, the tabby gently jumps to the foot of the cradle. The attention of the baby is drawn to the soft, furry creature in his bed. The crying wanes. The tabby carefully settles herself near the baby and begins to purr softly. The magic of the murmuring sound completely quiets the infant. He is fascinated by it and extends his tiny hand toward the tabby cat. The mother's relief is great. Joyful to see her child happy again, she thanks the cat who befriended them. In appreciation of the tabby's kindness, Mary affectionately strokes the cat and then, with her index finger, traces her own initial on the purring animal's forehead. To this very day, every tabby cat in the world bears the letter "M" on it's forehead. The next time you see a tabby, look carefully and in it's beautiful head markings you'll discover Mary's initial. It's there. You'll find it.

The Legend of the Christmas Spider
-author unknown Long ago in Germany, a mother prepared for Christmas Eve. She cleaned and scrubbed her home, chasing the spiders from the living room with her broom. The spiders fled to the attic and listened to the excitement as the Christmas tree was brought in and decorated. When all was quiet again, the little spiders crept back downstairs to see the beautiful tree. They were filled with happiness as they crawled along every branch, admiring the glittering beauty of each ornament. But alas, by the time they had finished climbing through the tree, it was completely draped with their dusty, gray cobwebs.
When the Christ child came, He smiled as He looked upon the happy little spiders, however, He knew the mother would be heartbroken when she saw the shrouded tree. So He reached out and touched the webs and, blessing them, turned them into silver and gold. Now the Christmas tree sparkled and shimmered and was even more beautiful than before. Thus the custom to have tinsel of silver and gold and a spider ornament amongst the other decorations on the Christmas tree was born.

Story of Inspiration

Once upon a mountain top, three little trees stood and dreamed of what they wanted to become when they grew up. The first little tree looked up at the stars and said: "I want to hold treasure. I want to be covered with gold and filled with precious stones. I'll be the most beautiful treasure chest in the world!"
The second little tree looked out at the small stream trickling by on it's way to the ocean. "I want to be traveling mighty waters and carrying powerful kings. I'll be the strongest ship in the world!
The third little tree looked down into the valley below where busy men and women worked in a busy town. "I don't want to leave the mountain top at all. I want to grow so tall that when people stop to look at me, they'll raise their eyes to heaven and think of God. I will be the tallest tree in the world."
Years passed. The rain came, the sun shone, and the little trees grew tall. One day three woodcutters climbed the mountain.
The first woodcutter looked at the first tree and said, "This tree is beautiful. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the first tree fell.
"Now I shall be made into a beautiful chest, I shall hold wonderful treasure!" The first tree said.
The second woodcutter looked at the second tree and said, "This tree is strong. It is perfect for me." With a swoop of his shining axe, the second tree fell.
"Now I shall sail mighty waters!" thought the second tree. "I shall be a strong ship for mighty kings!"
The third tree felt her heart sink when the last woodcutter looked her way. She stood straight and tall and pointed bravely to heaven.
But the woodcutter never even looked up. "Any kind of tree will do for me." He muttered. With a swoop of his shining axe, the third tree fell.
The first tree rejoiced when the woodcutter brought her to a carpenter's shop. But the carpenter fashioned the tree into a feedbox for animals.
The once beautiful tree was not covered with gold, nor with treasure. She was coated with saw dust and filled with hay for hungry farm animals.
The second tree smiled when the woodcutter took her to a shipyard, but no mighty sailing ship was made that day. Instead the once strong tree was hammered and sawed into a simple fishing boat. She was too small and too weak to sail to an ocean, or even a river; instead she was taken to a little lake.

The third tree was confused when the woodcutter cut her into strong beams and left her in a lumberyard. "What happened?" The once tall tree wondered. "All I ever wanted was to stay on the mountain top and point to God..."

Many many days and night passed. The three trees nearly forgot their dreams.
But one night, golden starlight poured over the first tree as a young woman placed her newborn baby in the feedbox.

"I wish I could make a cradle for him." her husband whispered. The mother squeezed his hand and smiled as the starlight shone on the smooth and the sturdy wood. "This manger is beautiful." she said. And suddenly the first tree knew he was holding the greatest treasure in the world.
One evening a tired traveler and his friends crowded into the old fishing boat. The traveler fell asleep as the second tree quietly sailed out into the lake.
Soon a thundering and thrashing storm arose. The little tree shuddered. She knew she did not have the strength to carry so many passengers safely through with the wind and the rain.

The tired man awakened. He stood up, stretched out his hand, and said, "Peace." The storm stopped as quickly as it had begun. And suddenly the second tree knew he was carrying the king of heaven and earth.

One Friday morning, the third tree was startled when her beams were yanked from the forgotten woodpile. She flinched as she was carried through an angry jeering crowd. She shuddered when soldiers nailed a man's hands to her.
She felt ugly and harsh and cruel.
But on Sunday morning, when the sun rose and the earth tremble with joy beneath her, the third tree knew that God's love had changed everything.
It had made the third tree strong.
And every time people thought of the third tree, they would think of God.
That was better than being the tallest tree in the world.

So next time you feel down because you didn't get what you want, just sit tight and be happy because God is thinking of something better to give you ...........
-Anonymous-

Merry Christmas to All
Gandre, Marilyn
Buy this Art Print at AllPosters.com

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