Professional Documents
Culture Documents
P^mix^R
m
n
^m%.
;^
(>/
^iOi
/f
r^i
4:11%^ f
.(t>(()
UM
V-
ri
r
m
J
'I
I.
Corporation
http://www.archive.org/details/christmasmakingOOmilliala
CHRISTMAS MAKING
CHRISTMAS
By
MAKING
J.R.MILLER.D.D.
AUTI-iO^l
O-
yVHtN THE
SONG BEGINS"
.,'vBHhhU
'
'WS^K^
/^7 43
'
NEW YOPJS
THOMAS /CROWELL^d-
By THOMAS
Y.
CROWELL &
CO.
6.
Q_
TO THOSE EVERYWHERE
WHO LOVE
CHRISTMAS,
AND ARK
HAVE
ITS
WAY
IN
THEM
TO THOSE
WHO ARE
MAKE HAPPINESS FOR OTHERS TO THOSE WHO WANT TO DO SOMETHING TO MAKE THE WORLD BRIGHTER AND SWEETER, AND A BETTER PLACE
;
TO LIVE
IN,
DEDICATED.
R. M.
Philadelphia, U.
S.
A.
Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to-night Christmas in lands of the fir tree and pine,
Christinas in lands of
palm
trees
and
vine,
Christmas where snow-peaks stand solemn and white, Christmas where cornfields lie sunny and bright Everywhere, everyvfkCTfe, Cijristmas to-night.
Christmas where children are hopeful and gay, Christmas where old men are patient and gray, Christmas where peace like a dove in its flight,
Broods o'er brave men in the thick of the fight Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to-night.
For the Christ-child who comes is the Master of all. No palace too great, no cottage too small The angels who welcome Him sing from the height, "In the city of David a King in his might" Everywhere, everywhere, Christmas to-night.
Then
let
its
Christmas within
Phillips
Brooks.
^7
43
The
first
part was an
" Glory to
God
in the
first.
He
should be
our hearts,
first
was
fitting
that the
Gocl.
first
was God's
unspeakable
Before
we
we
God and
praise him.
would bring
it
change
earth
and transformation
peace, good-will
would work.
"On
toward men."
We
ings.
friend wishes us a
5
happy birthday.
The
wish
sincere
it.
and there
is
back of
take
it
But nothing
it
will
come
of
it
unless
and make
real in our
us.
own
life.
we God has
He
is
always plan-
things into our hearts and lives only through our personal acceptance and appropriation of them by
faith,
its
may
rain,
be.
God
But
sends
and his
on the
evil
and
Christ-
mas
in its divine
it
real to us
only as
own
experience.
An
writes
Thy
forlorn.
The
cross in thine
own
heart,
Christmas
is
Christian
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
festivals.
7
the earth.
It
is
for
men.
There
is
scarcely a
home
so
mas
spirit
touches
it
with some
carries
little
brightness,
it
into
little
There
is
from companionship,
human
love,
with some
some word
of
sympathy and
cheer,
some token of
every home.
Think
simplest toys
presents
among
among
the rich.
There
is
no need to plead
to
make
it
what
we may make
from
it.
it,
so as to get the
most we can
How
God gave
to us.
It
was
his gift.
The
is
story
is
told in the
New
Testament.
There
one great
CIIRISTMAS-MAKING.
how
it
came
"
God
so loved the
life."
We
love because he
bright-
first
warms and
ens this old earth was kindled from the one heavenly-
first
first
Christmas night.
Christmas was the
God
Think
of the beginning
how small
in
it
was.
It
Think
which the
The
world.
little
first
much
in the
Its
company
watch
in the fields,
so far as
we
are told,
who heard
of the wonderful
event, or
first
came
The
its
holy sentiment.
But with
this
if
most stupendous
events.
cattle-shed,
at that time
unusual.
we would
who was
the
The only
in, all
light
When
shepherds came
bending over
beginning.
it
in tender love.
It
was a
real Christmas.
There
is
Madonna
di
San
Sisto,
by clouds.
myriads of angel
Child.
faces, all
is
The
picture
true.
ing his
face
with
It
the
infant Saviour.
to earth.
was a
bit of
heaven
let
down
10
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
of Christmas was.
The
was a place
sin, of
Millions
of
men were
reeked to heaven.
Home meant
women
was
love.
but
men and
full of sin.
Love
friend.
love,
as
Christmas night.
to earth
it
thus
down
at Christmas,
;
Love all lovely, love divine Love was born at Christmas, Star and angels gave the sign.
" Love shall be our token,
Love
Love for
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
11
this tiny
What was
among
should
the problem ?
its
It
was for
out
way
it,
among men,
purified,
be
touched
by
This
of a
changed,
sweetened, softened.
is
woman
putting a
little
it
way through
We
"On
is
earth peace,
good-will
toward men."
That
man
flesh
do
to make
it
This
is
a great word.
As we
read the
New
Testament we find
men
to God.
"
Being
by
faith,
we have peace with God through Christ." Peace with God enmity
God made
the law of
life.
As we
read on,
we
means
God
in
ruling in the
life.
To
is
to be well
advanced
in the school
12
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
terrible Eastern
is
still
far
Yet
the
first
Christmas night
is
There
worked
One
picture
in a
meadow, and a
picture
is
mouth.
The
still
not
implement of war
exists,
though
unused.
The
prophet's picture
is
better
the
are
soldiers'
spears
hammered
into
pruning-hooks which
when war
shall
differ-
when
shall
be
settled
by the
The
best definition
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
of these words
is
13
love.
Jesus put
it,
"As
have
To
is
to
love
but those
An
commandment
God
is
to love people
forgive
not
men means
not
all
Some one
writes
in their lives;
;
do a good
and, finally,
word
How
much such
appreciation
means
to others sometimes,
it
!
and how
little it costs
us to give
If
we
we
well,
but we shall
It
make us good
14
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
there
is
When
home
of a
neighbor,
we
will
that he might be
to help them.
to
men shows
itself.
be.
little
Norman MacLeod
creed
:
Than
I believe in self-denial,
And
its
through
trial,
Dying
"
not,
I believe in love
renewing
Leavenlike
its
work pursuing
;
remodelling,
reprieve.
In the grace of
its
believe."
The problem
born was
was
good-will to
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
16
is
much
all
that
is
very
way the
in
the
orphan,
the sick,
and
unfortunate ones
and
What
may
is
not
yet finished.
there
still
much
to do.
We may
After
us.
all,
What
is
We
Some
j)6ople
spend so much
What
is
about the
little
patch of God's
If the prob-
given us to tend ?
lem
of the church is to
make Christmas
in every
16
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
one of us.
to
make Christmas
Christmas
is
first in
own
heart and
life of
life.
Christlike-
ness.
The
ought to
get the
Some people
its
working
The kind
that will
is
something
tells of
show
little
Some one
seeing a
But the
he
and
hiin.
would always
fall
back.
A
No
and went
on.
He saw
his
down on
little
lifted the
creature
up
to
That
have done.
Love
is
shown quite
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
in the
17
he
way
man
his
treats a
dog as
in the spirit
shows toward
own
fellows.
Christmas
letter
" There
That
forget
is
Christmas
to
any
one
injuries they
tells of
may have
inflicted
Some
So
it
if
we
bleed,
we
in
is
Christmas
is
who
counsel
down upon our wrath. Surely we should not let the sun of the Christmas Eve go down on any feeling of anger or bitterness,
any grudge or hatred,
in our hearts.
Everything
that
is
unloving should be
swept
away
as
we
we
forgive our
Now bury with the dead years conflicts dead, And with fresh days let all begin anew."
18
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
should not forget the word " peace," in our
We
lesson.
"On
earth peace."
We
for peace.
easy to
it
will
the stars.
make
little
offences
grow large as we
and good
An unpleasant
word
fret
is
thinking of
and by to-morrow
But
Christ's
way
is
He
forgives,
he forgets, he blots out the record and goes on loving just as before, as
The Christmas
short to
Life
is
too
mind such hurts, which ofttimes are as much woundings of our own pride or self-esteem
as real injuries to us.
ignores them.
of social
life,
One
of
says, "
The hurts
of friendship,
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
wounds, the bruises, the scratches of
thorns on our bodies."
" Life
is
19
briers
or
And
enough for love. on forever and forever; It links the worlds that circle on above 'Tis God's first law, the universe's lever, In his vast realm the radiant soul sighs never, Life is too short.' "
Too short
love lives
'
we would make it really Christmas in our own hearts, we must learn to forget ourselves and
If to think of others.
We
of
to put
down
in place
for us.
We
to us,
we owe
give of
we have
love.
We
Some one
is
says
our
We
must no
longer
on
little
show us honor, attention, and deference, and to bow down to us and serve us, but, instead, mus^ get
down
ways.
and begin to
the lowliest
did.
serve others,
That
the
20
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
book
by a
brilliant
writer,
about keeping
which
is
worth
con-
down and
of little children;
loneliness of people
who
stop asking
how much
to bear in
to
live in the
same
them
give
to tell
you
it
will
it
;
more
light
and
in to
front, so that
behind you
make a grave
you willing
and a garden
are
We
before
first in
our
we can make
it
for
any
other.
and can-
within, in one's
own
heart.
will not
end
there.
We
must
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
be a maker of Christmas for others or
21
we cannot
need the
make
If
We
real possession.
we
we
is
kept indeed,
For the
gift
bare."
Every-
body we meet at
an armful of
mysterious bundles.
To
the
sent,
homes of the
with
their
poor, baskets
by hundreds are
provision for
The
very
air.
Even the
churl and the miser are generous and liberal for the time.
spirit of giving
But
others.
way
to
do good, to help
says, " It's very
In a story a good
man
Christmas dinners."
22
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
With many people this is very true. They know of no way of helping others save by giving them
material
things.
Yet
to
may
be a liberal benefactor.
We may
at
by sympathy, by
by encouragement.
Thanksgiving time
said that that
A good
for
grateful,
which,
was courage.
She had
her.
there
in
no other way in
which we can
giving them
lielp
courage.
struggles
and
to
it
more than we
easy for them to
is
the way.
What they
need, however,
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
not to have the load lifted
off,
23
or to be taken out
on
is
not in temporal
things, but in
So far as we are
Yet
He
There
is
row and
all
hardness of condition.
He
loved people
his helpfulness.
He
men's sufferings.
In
he was
my heart would break with the sorrows of the world." He was blamafflicted.
One
said, " If I
were God,
ing
God
ties,
He
said
God was
my
that that
it
was
just
broke
to
become the
24:
world's Redeemer.
others
He was
a marvellous helper of
not
give gifts at
But
let
ways.
We
Some one
make
men
gentle."
There
far
more need of
this sort
We
think most
of
We have no conception
who
the
number
of people about us
as the Christmastide.
least
who
will
a dreary
room
in a boarding house
itself,
it
may
be, but
made dreary by the absence of home's loved ones. You do not know what a blessing you may be to this
homeless one
if
you
will in
taste of
home
one hour on
near these
Christmas.
Jesus
has told us
how
CHRtSTMAS-MAKtNG.
lonely ones are to him.
25
it
He knew what
was to
have no place
people scattered
own
house,
the night.
Then he
tells
ns that
if
to a stranger
in, it is
we
in Jesus himself.
He
is
we make Christmas
homesick one.
little
some
word may be
who
is
will be
alone on Christmas,
who
are
away from
There
their homes,
way
in
to
make
Though no taste
or touch of
human
George Macdonald
"To
is is
that
that
riches
power."
ness to
One
said
of the
problems of
stances
independently of circumSt.
and conditions.
Paul
he
had
The
secret
was
in himself.
He
carried
26
in his
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
own mind and
heart the resonrces he needed.
life
No
how
and
may
home and
if
its
happiness, to go through
a Christmastide as
there
is
Yet
want of fellowship.
ing of others
Much
who
are lonely,
own
lonely condition.
Then we can
who
a
is
willing
joy.
Here
is
little
prayer
the Christmastide.
My
am
alone.
Yet may
have a joyous
Let
By
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
27
me
who have
do not have.
complaining,
Save
all
me from
homesickness, and
all
unhappiness
to
because of
my
circumstances.
Help me
and
remem-
who was
born in poverty
to be con-
this world,
my
who
;
myself,
away from
homes
whom
gladness
for the
appointed;
sorrowing,
and the
weary.
may some
touch of
human kindness
hungry
ones.
Grant
me
little
Christ-
mas
gladness to some
who but
for
me would go
unblessed.
Lead me
to one, at least, to
whom
Let me give
Give me the
who
is
discouraged.
making
real to
my
may not
loving spirit in
my
heart,
and something of
28
quickening in
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
my
life.
May
I
I get
new
vision of
May
which has
pages.
less
on
live
all
my
old year's
May
from to-day
less
more beautifully,
hel])fully
selfishly,
wilfully,
more
than
ever before.
May
I find
my
and
and
service.
Amen.
Good-will
"Good-will
toward
men."
It
means
shall
means that we
have no
bitter feeling
thought, no dislike.
This
man who
Perhaps
jostled against
it
brother.
I
was
as
much
obstinately
it
way.
Most
Let
uninten-
tionally.
me
We may
read
how Jesus
do.
showed good-will
would have us
frown never came upon his face when some one had
been rude or unkind to him.
him
to
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
selfish
29
about him.
and ill-mannered
in
pressing
They gave him no time to rest or to eat. even broke in upon him when he was at his
devotions.
failed.
They
private
But
his patience
ruffled
Nothing ever
or irritated
interrupted his
composure
him
They
told
was not
should not
let
But he continued
if
his
woman
in the land.
him on the
but he
went on That
showing no resentment.
is
what good-will
That
is
to
men means.
Can we
mas-making means.
On Christmas Day we
all
the world.
We
one.
We
let
nothing
We
We for-
We
give up grudges
and resentments.
be kind to those
We are glad of
any opportunity to
to us.
The
problem
is
to
30
take
it
CHRISTMAS-MAKING.
out with us into the
to
all
life of
Christmas, and
keep
on making Christmas
wherever we go
new
year.
If
we do
reign of love.
A
those
who
It
seems
are
who
circles of friends.
Day,
my
Father, I
come
to
Help me
to observe the
birth in Bethlehem
came
to bring redemption,
May this
away
be a true Christmas in
my heart.
unholy
Take
all
desire,
and give me
kind, that
is
and
is
evil,
own.
Save
me from
all selfish-
While
Christmas
31
may my
may
heart be opened
inter-
toward
est.
all
the world in
life
Make my
a song, and
everywhere
with joy on
I
my
all
face
and on
pray for
those to
brings
may
be enriched by thoughts
children everywhere, to
whom
so much,
for
so long in
whom
their
little
joy the
far
tai'y;
those
away from
sailors
homes, whose
love
;
warmed by human
;
prison-
on the
sea,
and those
who know
homes and
they
not thee.
may
divine compassion.
rowing, to
ries,
whom
making more
May
May
this glad
Christmas leave
the love of
my
life
richer
and tenderer.
May
God henceforth
be
32
CHRISTMA S-MAKIKG.
more
care
me.
the divine
be warmer
toward
my
sympathy with
I live
sorrow, and
may
a gentler,
Amen.
This book
is
DUE
JAN 5
1931
&
DEC 1
aim
Form L-9-35m-8,'28