An Unexpected Christmas Gift

It was a Tuesday night and I sat down to watch one of my favorite television programs at the time, M.A.S.H. My wife was in the kitchen making Christmas cookies getting ready for the holiday. She was in the final weeks of her pregnancy and we were anticipating a new arrival after the New Year. It had been cold and I was working in construction at the time, so work was very slow.
I enjoyed relaxing at night in a warm room after working in the cold all day.
Shortly after nine, I heard my wife say oh, no. I rushed into the kitchen to find that her water broke. We both were excited and nervous, because we knew what was happening. We called the doctor and he asked if she was in any pain, she had none. We were told to wait until she had contractions before going to the hospital. In the meantime, we were to take it easy and arrive at the hospital at eight in the morning, if she didn't have any contractions. We proceeded to get the suitcase ready for the trip, and decided to go to bed for the night. I never slept, every few minutes my wife thought she was having contractions and I would have to time them. We had no clue what we were doing, it was like being in a comedy, only we were the stars. She never seemed to be in much pain, so we waited till morning came and off to the hospital we went.
It took almost seven hours of inducing labor but around four o' clock in the afternoon, we had the most beautiful little girl. I couldn't believe my eyes, she was so small, with the darkest hair. When I saw her I was in awe. I knew from that moment she would be the most precious gift I could ever have received.
What is it about a baby girl? She makes a father feel like a king. He walks the hospital floor strutting like a peacock. His daughter is the most beautiful in the nursery.
December 22, 1976. the day my daughter was born. I remember thinking how rich a man I was. I had a beautiful wife, who loved me, and now I had a daughter whom I would give love and receive love. It seemed like just yesterday she was born, but can it be thirty four years. Where did the time go. She has gone from a baby girl to a little girl, from an awkward teen, to a young lady, from a lady to a mature woman. All these stages, and with each stage a proud father standing there and admiring. Sometimes, I wonder if she knows the joy
she has brought in my life. How proud I am of all her accomplishments. She truly has made me feel rich beyond my imagination. She is one of my greatest achievements in life. I am proud to be known as her Dad.

Christmas Thoughts

When I was young I remember Christmas as being an exciting time. All I could think about was what kind of presents I would receive and how many. As I got older Christmas became a time of giving. What kind of presents I could get for members of my family, trying hard to find something special. Later on I would spend countless dollars on gifts for my wife. I loved seeing her open the presents that I got for her, always surprising her with at least one thing she didn't expect. When the kids came, Christmas, was a time for them. I still bought for my wife, but the children came first. As the kids got older I found that Christmas didn't seem the same. All the holiday hoopla seemed annoying and lots of time I couldn't wait for it to be over. Now I have two grandsons, and
for the first time in a long time, I am enjoying the holiday. I started right after Thanksgiving, putting up the decorations and lights. Amazingly I found myself enjoying it. Thanks to my wife the house has become a Christmas village and we
never argued about how many times I had to go up into the attic.
Something else is different about this Christmas. The more I see the glow in my grandsons eyes as they look at the trains and decorations, I have come to understand what Christmas is about. Christmas is a time when we are coming to the end of another year. It is a time when we should reflect on what transpired in our daily lives throughout the year. It is a time for healing and forgiving. It is a time to be thankful for what we have been given. It is a time to
reach out and extend an olive branch to those we have hurt and those who have hurt us. We are all guilty of doing things that cause others harm. We are getting older and life is too short to constantly be at odds with people who we considered to be friends or family. Christmas is about celebrating Christ. We
should make it our priority to be like Him, and make peace with those whom we are at odds with. We should look at Christmas like my grandsons, a time of joy, excitement and awe, and innocence. Christmas is a time for peace, so let's
extend the hand of peace to all in our lives.
May you have a Merry Christmas and a Happy and healthy, and peaceful New Year.

Dec.8,1980

I remember being woke up by the radio on that cold December day. The announcer said today's top story is Beatle John Lennon is dead. He was shot and died early this morning at a New York hospital. December 8, 1980. I was shocked, even my wife who usually slept later was awakened by the news. We couldn't believe it.

I always liked John Lennon, he wasn't my favorite Beatle but without a doubt he was the most influential of the group. All of his songs seemed to have a specific meaning and they seemed to touch all the social issues of the day. I always thought he was a little goofy, and sometimes completely eccentric, but he had a way with music that made you listen and think.

I believe his best song was "Imagine". It is soothing and peaceful and it has meaning. Some say it is a song about communism or socialism. I think it is a song about " Utopia".  St. Thomas More created the word when he wrote about a perfect world of social, politics and law.  The most important meaning, of the song was peace.If there is one thing John Lennon strived for it was peace throughout the world.  It wasn't just peace from war, but peace in every day things we do. Peace at work, or where you live,
peace among your friends and enemies.
 

John Lennon would be almost seventy today, it is ashame that for the last thirty years we were deprived of his talent for making meaningful music. I listen to the Beatles quite often, and I enjoy their music as much today as I did when I was young. When I hear a Lennon song, I can't help but wonder what might have been.  It seems so many influential people leave this earth at a young age.  I wonder if they ever know how much their contributions have meant to us still living and listening.