ANOTHER LOOK AT KINDNESS

Speak Gently

by David Bates

Speak gently!—It is better far
To rule by love, than fear—
Speak gently—let not harsh words mar
The good we might do here!

Speak gently!—Love doth whisper low
The vows that true hearts bind;
And gently Friendship's accents flow;
Affection's voice is kind.

Speak gently to the little child!
Its love be sure to gain;
Teach it in accents soft and mild:—
It may not long remain.

Speak gently to the young, for they
Will have enough to bear—
Pass through this life as best they may,
'Tis full of anxious care!

Speak gently to the aged one,
Grieve not the care-worn heart;
The sands of life are nearly run,
Let such in peace depart!

Speak gently, kindly, to the poor;
Let no harsh tone be heard;
They have enough they must endure,
Without an unkind word!

Speak gently to the erring—know,
They may have toiled in vain;
Perchance unkindness made them so;
Oh, win them back again!

Speak gently!—He who gave his life
To bend man's stubborn will,
When elements were in fierce strife,
Said to them, "Peace, be still."

Speak gently!—'tis a little thing
Dropped in the heart's deep well;
The good, the joy, which it may bring,
Eternity shall tell.

CHRISTMAS POEM

HEAVEN'S GIFT

Heaven's gift has come to man.
Mortal fate rests
Within tiny hallowed hands.
Shepherds singing, a shining star
Angels proclaiming,
Kings bearing gifts from afar.
A scene of serene glory,
The weight of a holy hush,
The meaning of heaven's story,
'Twas God's first Christmas gift to us.

Who would recall the power of that day,
At the time when He was led away
Bearing a crown,a robe, and fateful wounds?
Was He not the gift from heaven's womb?

Shall we turn from that holy day
And walk away unchanged?
Will we allow it to envelope our souls
Only to let it slowly slip away?

Through plastic, tinsel, parties and gifts,
Shopping, planning, and Christmas lights lit,
Can the simple gift be heard or seen,
Or does it quietly fade behind holiday sheen?

Let us not forget that He loves us so.
He loves us too much to let us go.
He sent a plan with His sacrifice
To forgive and cleanse and give us life.

Embrace the greatest gift of all;
Don't let your sense of the manger wane.
The gift of heaven is yours to receive.
It was the true reason He came.

by Sandra A. Popp

Advent...A Time of Waiting

Advent is one of my favorite seasons of the year. It is a time of waiting, expecting, and preparing for the coming of Christ. It is a time of wondering, hoping, seeking and longing for peace. It is a time to be light in the dark corners of this world...to be still and know that He is God. But it is so easy to get caught up in the hustle and bustle and commercial hype of Christmas that we forget the real meaning of the season. Have you found yourself being pulled in many different directions during this holiday time? Do you want a slight nudge from the Spirit...from the Word of God to help you refocus?
Isaiah 64:4 " For since the world began, no ear has heard and no eye has seen a God like you, who works for those who wait for him."
Is.30:18 " Blessed are all who wait for Him."
I pray these words may encourage all of us to fix our eyes on the coming of Christ. To wait for His coming by bringing light into the dark places of someone's life; by bringing peace and reconciliation into our relationships; by rekindling hope in those who have lost hope; by making crooked ways straight and by leading others to the heart of Christ by extending grace and kindness.

May He come afresh to each one of us during this sacred journey of Advent.
Let us wait in hope for the coming of our Lord.

Application:
Find one thing you can do to make this season about Jesus/ not Santa.
Find one thing you can do to make this season about giving/ not receiving.
Find one thing you can do to make this season about peace and reconciliation/ anger and unforgiveness.

Prayer:
Lord, teach us to wait on you. Draw us to yourself. Help us to put aside our busyness to spend some quiet time with you. Show us how to prepare the way for you in our own lives and in those we meet along the way. We wait, we hope, we long for you, O Lord. May you be praised and lifted high. Amen.