Tell Me A Story: THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking

THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS:

FLIGHT 93

"WITH YOU"

Today is December 31, 2013: the last day of the year.

I have one more Christmas story for you before you "toast in", or "pray in" the New Year, and I have some photos to share of more projects my family completed before Christmas.

My daughter, Kristin, says I need a sign above my craft room (formerly known as dining room and kitchen) that says: "Mrs. Santa's Workshop."

I will share directions for the projects in future blogs - but for now - please enjoy these photos from Mrs. Santa's Workshop/Kitchen.

Remember the mini-pails I made previously?

Here they are - finally filled with candy.

They were my favorite project of the 2013 Christmas season.

These precious mini-pails have also given me the most headaches - since several of the photographs have fallen off the pails. I need to re-glue them with #E-6000 Spray. I think I will wipe the pails with rubbing alcohol first - and then re-glue.

Any ideas?!

Last - but certainly not least - I am blessed to share one more story in 2013.

This incredible story comes from Brian Mavis, CEO and Founder at Adopt Colorado Kids and Community Impact at Life Bridge Christian Church.

FLIGHT 93

AND

THE MEANING OF CHRISTMAS

From Brian Mavis

I have a friend named Don.

Actually, Don is more of an acquaintance, but if we had more chances to connect, we'd be friends. I know Don because we have spoken at a couple of the same conferences. At one conference, Don said he had been a rugby player.

He said when you have the ball, and you're dodging tacklers, your teammates to the left, right, and behind will yell: "WITH YOU!"

Don's team even made this their slogan, and it eventually became their friendship motto off the field, too.

On September 11, 2001, Don was in line to board United Flight 93. Two of his rugby buddies, Mark Bingham and Jeremy Glock, were boarding that same flight. While Don was waiting to board, he got a call asking him to fill in for a speaker that evening in Houston. Don agreed to it. He left the United Flight 93 gate to take Flight 91 to Houston, saying goodbye to his buddies with a "WITH YOU!"

A few years after that fateful flight, Don was one of the people invited to listen to the onboard tapes of those final moments on Flight 93. We know that a small group of passengers including Mark Bingham, Jeremy Glick, and Todd Beamer made an attempt to regain control of the plane from the hijackers.

Don said it was a heart-grieving experience to listen to the harrowing screams just before the explosion and silence.

But, Don said before that terrible end, you can hear Mark yell out "WITH YOU!" right before you hear "Let's Roll!"

"WITH YOU!"

That simple saying of encouragement and friendship is also the message and meaning of Christmas.

Jesus is "IMMANUEL," meaning "GOD WITH US."

What does Christmas mean?

It means even when you feel alone, God is "WITH YOU!"

When you feel brokenhearted, God is "WITH YOU!"

When you feel like your life has been hijacked, and is crashing, God is "WITH YOU!"

This isn't just a message of proximity; it's a message of affinity.

God is with you, and for you. He is near you, and endeared to you.

God is "WITH YOU!" because that's how love rolls.

May All My Friends and Family...

...Have A Merry and Meaningful Christmas!

Love,

Brian

United Flight 93

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_Airlines_Flight_93

9/11 Terrorist Attacks

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:

http://www.911memorial.org/

IMMANUEL GOD WITH US

CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:

http://images.search.yahoo.com/search/images;_ylt=A0SO8xcjHMNSeC0A5d1XNyoA;_ylu=X3oDMTB0MDQxdTIwBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA2dxMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDM1MV8x?_adv_prop=image&fr=mcafee&va=immanuel+god+with+us