He once told me he had eaten about every kind of bird there was in state of Florida. Then with a twinkle in his eye he would say, "Course, some you needed ‘bout a dozen or so to make a good sandwich."

He frequently came to my church study, and when he should have been mowing lawn and I should have been busy with church work, he regaled me with enchanting stories of those early days in Florida.

It wasn't long before I could repeat his stories, as well as he. Toward end, he would confuse stories and mix them up somewhat, but I never corrected him. I was tempted, but they were his stories and I figure a man should have liberty in telling his stories any way he pleases.

We would be talking in my office and telephone would ring. We would look at ringing telephone and he would laugh. "Bet I know who's callin'."

He was always right. It was his wife, wondering where her husband was, who should've been home an hour ago.

During my interview at my present church, he was on examining board. All through interview, he sat there just looking me over, not saying a word. Finally, at end he spoke up.

"All I want to know is, Pastor, when was last time you went fishin'?"

At time, I did not know what he meant and mumbled something to effect that I was too busy for such nonsense. He just smiled. A smile I was to come to know and appreciate.

He had a way of saying something to you without ruffling your feathers, but more important, he knew when he had said enough.

Years later I know exactly what he meant.

I'm reminded of a saying of another friend of mine, "Either come apart and rest awhile, or you'll simply come apart."

During these busy days, it is easy to forget how important it is to slow down and take everything in stride. It's same old story; so much to do and so little time.

The Bible states this truth in a wonderful way. "There remaineth therefore a rest to people of God. For he that is entered into his rest, he also hath ceased from his own works, as God did from his. Let us labour therefore to enter into that rest, lest any man fall after same example of unbelief." (Hebrews 4:9-11 KJV.)

If it is true that everyone has a double, I fully expect to meet me coming around a corner, somewhere.

Joined a self-help group, packed, and left in a whiz, Demanding from now on her title was Ms.

And as for gifts, why, he'd ne'er had a notion That making a choice could cause so much commotion. Nothing of leather, nothing of fur, Which meant nothing for him. And nothing for her. Nothing that might be construed to pollute. Nothing to aim. Nothing to shoot. Nothing that clamoured or made lots of noise. Nothing for just girls. Or just for boys. Nothing that claimed to be gender specific. Nothing that's war-like or non-pacific. No candy or sweets...they were bad for tooth. Nothing that seemed to embellish a truth. And fairy tales, while not yet forbidden, Were like Ken and Barbie, better off hidden. For they raised hackles of those psychological Who claimed only good gift was one ecological. No baseball, no football...someone could get hurt; Besides, playing sports exposed kids to dirt. Dolls were said to be sexist, and should be passé; And Nintendo would rot your entire brain away. So Santa just stood there, dishevelled, perplexed; He just could not figure out what to do next. He tried to be merry, tried to be gay, But you've got to be careful with that word today.

His sack was quite empty, limp to ground; Nothing fully acceptable was to be found. Something special was needed, a gift that he might Give to all without angering left or right. A gift that would satisfy, with no indecision, Each group of people, every religion; Every ethnicity, every hue, Everyone, everywhere...even you. So here is that gift, its price beyond worth... "May you and your loved ones enjoy peace on earth."

(Anonymous)