Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1906-12-08

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such whole souled Joy as that you felt
over the little gift Of those Christmas
days Of old. The gifts now must DC
commensurate with our larger ideas.
What would really make you happy
now? Could any gift in the world DO
itP | doubt 1t. Well, then, | want 10
draw your attention to another world
where one sits who, better than your
mother In the old days, knows your
needs and the gifts that Will satisfy
them.
A List of Gifts.
What our mothers demanded from
us when we were little children many
years ago Jesus Christ Is demanding
from us now. AS the Christmas hon'
day approaches, God wants us to make
out a list of all the gifts we should ike
from him for the day which commem-
CRATES the birth of Jesus Christ. FUR
thermore, God does not limit us IN the
sense that our mothers had to limit US,
because their incomes were meager ana
the outgoes taxed all their resources
God comes to us in the same way as
Alexander the Great came to his ONCE
one day and said, Make me any re-
quest, and If it is possible VIII grant
It," So God says. Whatsoever ye
shall ask In my name for the blessed
Christmas time In memory OF my uh-
speakable gift, that will do" On.
ls not this blessed offer2 Let us Try
To enumerate some of the Christmas re-
quests we ought to make to Coo, whlcn
he can and will satisfy II we only
come to him In the right Christmas
spirit.
The first Christmas request that
should like to ask from God Is that l
might have the simple faith OF my
childhood. BY that | do not mean sim
ply the faith with which l could trust
nv father and mother and my God, but
also the simple faith with which | can
learn to trust my brother and sisters
and all those with whom l am associ-
ated in life. All, that should mean
much to you and me, for of all unhap-
nv and miserable natures think one
Of the most miserable Is what we call
the suspicious nature. 1t is that awrui
characteristic which is always hunting
for the faults and deceits rather tnan
for the virtues of others.
Some time. ago l saw picture EMU
tied "The Suspicious Man." william
| Hocarth. the English caricaturist,
could not have depicted disturbing sus'
| picion in more powerful way. There
was q mans face with a curling lip OF
scorn. His eye had doubter's look,
| his arms were raised In an attitude OF
| rabuke and protest, while to the rignI
of the picture stretched forth simply
an open hand, which In mute appeal
seemed to say: Brother, come ano
trust me, and l will help you. Let US
be friends" may, nay" seemed tc
saw that curling lip. Il will trust nc
one not even thee" Ah, that picture
of the suspicious man Is the photo
sSaph Of many here today. we have
beerl nee. about; we have been cheated
we have had our loving confdenoss-he
trayed. The result is we think tn'
whole human flock bad because few
of the sheep are black. We distrust al
people because a few have proved fals'
to their profession. Now, / pray Goo
that at the coming Christmas l ma!
have my faith In mankind re-estab
lished and my faith in humanity re
newed. | would also have my faith II
Gods love and goodness verified.
Faith In Mankind.
And why should we not make thl
Christmas request Of God? Do no
faith in God and faith In man go ham
in hand? Are not the goodness an
, kindness of man manifest on ever,
hand? Did the spirit Of honesty an
love and self sacrifice pass away whe
YOUR mother died? Are not your sl'
ters and brothers doing for their chi
dren exactly what your parents ono
did for you? l believe the reason W
: take such a depressed view of the nj
man race today is not because all PEI
r ple are bad. We simply refuse TO ope
< our eyes and see the good qualities
i peoDle who are everywhere around u
g Satan has placed a binding catara'
over our eyes. May we be able
make the prayer today which po'
r Bartimaeus made many years ag
.Thou son Of David, have mercy" an
when Christ said unto him, What WI
s thou that l should do unto theeT II
e blind man answered, Lord, that
g might receive my sight" Thus ma
e we make a request for this comir
g Christmas May we say, "Lord, op'
J. our eyes that we may see thy goo
d ness as well as the goodness or o.
% fellow men," Oh, how happy the ne
d Christmas would be If we could on
v see the good in mankind rather thu
!? the faults Of our brothers and sister
d A merry. merry Christmas truly wou
n then be our next Christmas holiday.
IS But next to faith In God and faith
orr fellow men there Is another desl
tugging at my heart. That Is TO ma
81 something out Of my own life. Al
y when l speak thus I am making
u Christmas request inspired by pul
y " selfish motive. l am not coming
God and saying, 20 God, make me
II great man in order that other men m
III fall down Upon their knees and w
er ship mel" but l am saying, 20 GC
X let me fill a position Of usefulness
ne order that I may be Of service to
st fellow men and help them on In
Is struggle Of lifep That is a just a
ne q holy request to make of Jesus for
;" ,oming Christmas present.
~ Let me illustrate by simple stol
y. I am a young man. l have a weal'
., father. who Is a great merchant.
- - to that parent and say, Father, z
=, ~ me some money that | may 1--we .
u support my wife and children" III