What do you say?

 

When we were young, our parents reminded us to say it.

Today, many people in our culture seem unwilling or unable to say it.

Some people even feel that only genuine wimps or old fogies will say it.

But, true, competent professionals consistently illustrate the relevance of polite behavior by saying both “please” and “thank you.”

 

 

 

_{A version of this blog post originally appeared on Page 1 in
The Moore-Wilson Sigaling Report—Vol. 4 No. 4 for July/August 1992}

 

_{Copyright © 2010 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}

 

A Poem for Christmas 2010

Tradition comes alive each Christmas,
With bells, and songs, and words of cheer.
To celebrate our Savior's coming,
And welcome Him, as He draws near.

“How silently, how silently
The wondrous gift is given!
So God imparts to human hearts
The blessings of His heaven.”

We look upon the Baby Jesus,
But, see the shadow of the cross.
He came to bring us God’s salvation
To redeem us from our sin and loss.

“No ear may his His coming,
But in this world of sin,
Where meek souls will receive him,
Still the dear Christ enters in.”

With hearts as cold as winter,
We turn toward God’s delight.
The warmth of Jesus’ Presence
Brings joy to us this night.

“O holy Child of Bethlehem
Descend to us, we pray
Cast out our sin and enter in
Be born to us today.”

Life’s pathways lay before us
With many lows and heights.
We choose to follow Jesus
From darkness into Light.

“We hear the Christmas angels
Their great glad tidings tell.
O come to us, abide with us,
Our Lord Emmanuel”

—Dan Karroll Williamson
adapted from Phillips Brooks’
“O Little Town of Bethlehem”

_{Copyright © 2010 by Dean K. Wilson. All Rights Reserved.}