The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1916-12-21
Christmas

the l1meS-GaZeGC6 Oh TUSCALOOSA, AID
Christmas
(By Mrs. w. A. Collier)
"Not what we give, but what we share,
For the gift without the giver is bare;
Who gives himself with his aims feeds
three
Himself, his hungering neighbor and
me-"
Christmas, with all its joys and
happiness, is approaching and when
we remember what the celebration
means-the day that God gave His
priceless gift to the world, and as we
go about Tuscaloosa, seeing the
Christ spirit exemplified in the lives
of those who are striving to make the
occasion joyous for the less fortunate,
we feel that at least some are worthy
Ct the Divine plaudit-"Inasmuch as
you have done it to the least of these,
you have done it unto me-"
Christmas has so far degenerated
into an occasion of mere gift-giving
that it is a matter of custom to ex-
pect as we'll as contribute and there is
great danger of forgetting that
Christmas stands as a commemora-
ton of love in heaven and earth. The
custom of bestowing gifts is beau
tiful one, typical of the season of love,
for on the gladstone Christmas the
world was given the Redeemer of man
and it is not the idea to discourage
the custom of gift giving but the GUS
tom of making expensive gifts, there
by making the holiday a burden
rather than joy. The recipient, as
rule, does not need the gift bestow-
ed and had often rather receive a
heart full of love and good wishes
with tiny token thrown in for good
measure A small, inexpensive gift
with more of the giver's true self,
more sympathy, means much toward,
real Christmas cheer.
There are many to whom the glad
some holiday means little of happi-
ness or brightness for in the homes
of the destitute and suffering poor
the lives of the children are a deep
drab without ray of sunshine and
the approach of Christmas is a season
dreaded by the mother of the wee girl
who has never held doll with "really
truly" hair; the father of a bright
boy who doesn't own a toy drum or
tin whistle. In celebration of the
birthday of the King who forgets not
one of His children may we, this year
when times are hard and money scare,
take common sense view of gift Civ
ing and remember our friends in
simple fashion while our gifts of
small toys take happiness to children
of less fortunate parents.
Of course our Individual lists are
long but who could groan over that?
For the longer the list the more
potentially happy the donor and only
at Christmas do we communicate as
concerning giving and receiving in the
apostles phrase at is more blessed
to give than to receive" Where the
true Christmas spirit exists the
Christmas list is list of beautiful
opportunities and church folk, Sunday
schools, charitable institutions as well
take the opportunity to be of service
ard benefit to persons or families of
restricted means whose hearts will be
warmed and whose burdens will be
Eghtened; whose lives will be made
brighter and happier by the kindly
thought which prompts the giving of
small gifts.
Why not try borrowing children for
the yuletide festivities if the home
knows not the joy and happiness of a
tiny tot? There are many who would
gladly repay the childless family for
their sacrifice and trouble by bringing
into such home a ray of sunshine,
radiated only by one of tender years,
or perhaps big-hearted family with
comfortable home might adopt a
crushed lonely soul for the Christmas
season, to be warmed by the sincere
radiance and cheer that permeates the
atmosphere of many childless homes.
Relieve the restitution of a less