St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-12-22
. 3 = r 2 g g s = = = r 2


the ldCeS YOU see
Look at the passerbys. Can't
you see there are a great many
more friendly faces in the throngs
than usual?
Wouldn't it be wonderful if this
Christmas spirit lasted all the
year? During the year, most peo-
pie are so busy doing things for
themselves they really don't take
the time to think of others.
1t is when the spirit of Christ
mas comes that causes them to
reach back over the past year and
check up on their activities and
they find they have been a little
selfish. Now, the Spirit of Christ
mas has found them thinking of
others they had all but forgotten,
during the year.
You see an advertisement ask
ing, Have you talked with your
mother, lately? You begin to think
of your mother and realize you
have not even written to her since
Mothers Day! You can hardly wait
for the hours to pass so you can
call Mother this evening. You have
all sorts of thoughts as you wait.
You wonder how she is. You do
not know whether she is well or
ill. You wonder how you could
have been so negligent. You love
your mother very dearly but you
simply did not have time to write!
How fortunate you are when
your Mother answers her telephone
that evening. She was so happy to
hear from you and to know you
are well and happy. Not a word
about your neglect and that makes
you feel worse. She asks you If
you can spend a part Of the holi-
day season with her, this year.
Your heart is so happy to know
that she is. alive and feeling fine
that you promise to spend ALL of
your holidays with her.
How happy you are to be going
home for the holidays. You decide
to do some shopping for your
Mother. You have no idea what
she would like. So, you decide to
wait until you get home" and
have one of your sisters buy your
gifts for Mother. BY this time you
really have the Christmas spirit
and it shines and tells the world
how happy you are. To you, it
seems everyone is so bright and
cheerful, now. Not knowing it,
they feel your happiness and it is
contagious!
You do not realize the exact
reason you are so happy, but the
few hours between the time you
decided to telephone your Mother
and before you heard her voice
you had pangs of fear. Your reac-
ton is one of complete joy that
YOU have a Mother waiting to see
YOU. You make a solemn promise to
yourself that you will keep In
touch with home from now on.
You do not feel the least bit as
named to ge good, loving and kind
because you realize how utterly
selfish you have been the whole
year!
Your world has become better
place to live because you are hap
py and glad, now.
The vast majority of friends and
relatives really enjoy giving gifts
but most of all, they enjoy buying
them for their relatives and
friends. A few have been heard to
say, II wish they would keep their
gifts, I don't like what they gave
me, anyway but have to get one
for them now. will get anything,
I don't care what it is, so long as
pay them back for giving me
this gift!
That is NOT the Christmas
spirit. If you feel that way about
buying a gift it would be better
IF you did not buy anything.
The smallest gift, given with
love, is appreciated.
Only a few more days until