Copyright, 2003 Jan McCracken http://www.lowcarbcookin.com mailto: jan@lowcarbcookin.com 472 words

CHRISTMAS IS CELEBRATION!

Ah, Christmas - what a Celebration! And do you know what celebration is? It is an instinct of heart! Christmas with red ribbons galore, aroma of fresh pine, gifts from heart, feasting together in merriment with music abounding and so list goes on.

Stop and think with me a moment - think about all centuries that we have celebrated Christmas even with threatening circumstances around world and in face of adversity!

Christmas has been celebrated since that cry came ringing down through ages, "Fear not, for behold I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in City of David a aviour, which is Christ Lord."

Traditions sweetly cluster around this season of celebration with ignificance of heart's intentions - yearning of our spirit to express hope, faith and love.

Take away this "intention" and gift is BARE. It becomes just a touch of tinsel and a time with no meaning.

Faith, hope and love cannot be bought or sold but only given away. These are wellsprings deep of Christmas celebration.

These gifts have no price tags. The ornaments cannot be imitated but are a unique discovery within one's self.

These special and wonderful gifts are not always easy to come by yet are unlimited in supply and within reach of all of us!

“Do as I say, not as I do” is a common joke among parents, but during separation period, your children need a strong leader. You know you must lead by example. You can’t tell your kids to do one thing and then do another, as they would be quick to point out if you do not follow your own rules. It is important to you that television doesn’t become an electronic babysitter, taking place of books or conversations. Instead of watching your T.V. in evening, you read books and encouraged your kids to do same.

As a single parent, I am sure you have spent time thinking about how you could be a good role model. Perhaps you haven’t wanted your children eating junk food, so you have stopped buying it, even though Oreo’s and ice cream are your favorite comfort foods. You find yourself watching your alcohol intake because preaching about evils of drugs and alcohol would be worthless if you drank too much. Also, if you have budding adolescents, you know your kids would rationalize sexually active behavior if men or women spent night at your home.

Not only do you want to be a good role model, but you want to inspire your children to be better people. It is more than wanting to avoid negative behavior, but desiring to reinforce good in each child. Praise them and give them support and attention they crave. When they recognize positive qualities in themselves, they will be able to see same in others.

Teach your children respect for authority. Never allow them to blame their teachers for bad grades. Don’t badmouth police officers on traffic patrol, and immediately move to side of road when you hear a siren, allowing fire fighters and ambulances to pass.