Christmas Time

I never found my old tape of non-traditional Christmas songs which included these ones. I practically scoured rummaging the internet, but found nothing. The album is titled Christmas Love and the songs contained in it were mostly sung by kids. Until now I can still remember these two songs that were one of my favorites.

Christmas Time

Christmas time comes once a year
It's here and then it's gone,
But if you have Christ in your heart
Then Christmas will live on.

A tiny babe lying in a manger
Destined for the cross
To give His life for you and me
To redeem the lost.

Christmas time Oh Christmas Time
Always live in my heart and mine
Lord help me not to go astray
But to live each day like Christmas day.


Jesus Our Saviour Kind and Good

Jesus our saviour kind and good
Was born in a manger of straw and woods
And the friendly beasts around Him stood
Jesus our saviour kind and good

"I" said the donkey shaggy and brown
"I carried His mother up hill and down
I carried her safely to Bethlehem town"
"I" said the donkey shaggy and brown

"I" said the cow all white and red
"I gave Him my manger for a bed
I gave Him my hay to pillow His head
"I" said the cow all white and red

"I" said the sheep with the curly horn
"I gave Him my blanket for a warm
And he wore my coat on that Christmas morn
"I" said the sheep with the curly horn

"I" said the dove from the rafters high
"I cooed Him to sleep so He would not cry
We cooed Him to sleep my mate and I
"I" said the dove from the rafters high


Here are some of the titles also included as far as I can recall:

Wake O Earth, Wake Everything
Happy Christmas
Jesus Our Saviour Kind and Good
What will I Give Him
Run with Torches
Away in a Manger
You were sent from up above

Father Jerry Orbos' Almost Christmas

Just three more days before Christmas. And I want to share this very fulfilling message from Fr. Jerry Orbos. It's a strong message for all of us living in modern times on how we observe and celebrate Christ's birthday.

For many of us, it’s almost Christmas, but not quite. All the trimmings of Christmas have blinded us and have diverted our focus from the Christ-child. And so it is that, so engrossed in our preparations and decorations, we forget the birthday celebrant, the person. And because of the pressures and the rush, we forget that Christmas is all about persons, and not so much about collections and celebrations.

Almost Christmas, but not quite, for those who look at the Nativity scene and focus on the gold, frankincense, and myrrh instead of the Holy Family. Our lack or surplus of money should not affect the Christmas spirit in our families.

Almost Christmas, but not quite, for those who focus on the goats and sheep at the Nativity scene and think of parties, drinks and food and forget to share their bounty to so many suffering and hungry people around them, and who also forget spiritual food for their own malnourished souls, especially during Christmas.

Almost Christmas, but not quite, for those who focus on their worldly, political, and economic agenda at Christmas, instead of just being grateful, obedient and humble before the God-child whose only agenda was to do His Father’s will, and whose only mission was to serve and to love.

Almost Christmas, but not quite for those who look at the Nativity scene and focus on the ugliness and stench of the manger, and forget the dirt and mess in their own hearts and in their relationship with God and with others. Purity of heart, that’s what Christmas is all about for Joseph, Mary and the Infant. Hopefully, too, for us.

Finally, almost Christmas, but not quite, for those who look at the Nativity scene and focus on the Three Kings and become so engrossed on power, or staying in power by all and by any means, and forget that all power comes from God and should be used for God and for His people, not for themselves.

The Fruit of...

"The fruit of Silence is Prayer
The fruit of Prayer is Faith
The fruit of Faith is Love
The fruit of Love is Service
The fruit of Service is Peace."

-Mother Teresa

Today Is Mine

"Today is mine. It is unique.

Nobody in the world has one exactly like it.

It holds the sum of all my past experiences and all my future potential.

I can fill it with joyous moments or ruin it with fruitless worry.

If painful recollections of the past come into my mind, or frightening thoughts of the future, I can put them away.

They cannot spoil today for me."

-Alcoholic Anonymous

A simple advice

In dwelling, live close to the ground.
In thinking, keep to the simple.
In conflict, be fair and generous.
In governing, don't try to control.
In work, do what you enjoy.
In family, be completely present.

The Ox and the Mule

For some time an old farmer had been plowing with an ox and a mule teamed together; working them pretty hard. The young ox said to the mule, "Let's play sick today and rest a little while." But the old mule said, "No, we need to get the work done, for the growing season is short."

But the ox played sick, and the farmer brought it fresh hay and corn and made the ox comfortable. When the mule came in from plowing, the ox asked how it went in the fields. "We didn't get as much done," answered the mule, "but we did a fair stretch." Then the ox asked, "What did the old man say about me?" "Nothing," said the mule.

The next day the ox, thinking it had a good thing going, played sick again. And when the mule returned from the field very tired, the ox asked, "How did it go today?" "All right, I guess," the mule replied, "but we didn't get much done." Then the young ox asked, "What did the old man say about me?" "Nothing to me," the mule answered, "but he did stop and have a long talk with the butcher."

Never give up!

I found this funny but inspiring cartoon from my email. I find it as one of the best representations of determinism and persistence. Most of us may have been in the frog's shoes one way or the other, but only few must have slipped out of the bird's throat. Simply because we have lost the will to fight or have just given up and lost hope. In every hopeless situation we are in, we must learn to accept it, so that we can deal with it and cope with it until we are able to get out.

An Old Irish Prayer

Take time to work, it is the price of success.

Take time to think, it is the source of power.

Take time to play, it is the secret of perpetual youth.

Take time to read, it is the foundation of wisdom.

Take time to be friendly, it is the road to happiness.

Take time to dream, it is hitching your wagon to a star.

Take time to love and be loved, it is the privilege of the gods.

Take time to look around, it is too short a day to be selfish.

Take time to laugh, it is the music of the soul.