Many traditions contribute to the special warmth. joy and enchantment of the Christmastide. including the spiritual meaning, the Christmas tree, gift-giving, carolnng. and musical and literary clasl..et’s focus. on a few literary contributions associated with the season. New Testament accounts, of course. tell of the birth of Jesus Christ in Bethlehem and the dramatic evans that surrounded the Nativity. They also relate how the wise man worshipped the Christ Onild and bestowed gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh upon hitn. During Jesus ministry he counseled that “it is more blused to give than to recdve.” These words arc often quoted at Christrnastune, evan today. American poet Jotm Greenleaf Whittier tlwl-92t wrote in similar spirit: “Somehow. not only for Chrlstmas But for all the long year through. The joy that you give in others ls the joy that comes back to yonn,” Washington Irving tl7lB-1859). another Ama-ican writer. portrayed the yuletide mood in this livdy bit of verse: “Chrlstmas ls here, merry old Christmas. Gift-besrlng. heart-touching Joy-bringing Christmas Day of grand memories. King of the All thse thoughts make you want to dnout “Merty Christmas, Happy Gnristmas” and wish the massage somdnow could be heard everywhere in a world marred hy hunger. conflict and chaos. German poet Johann vm Goethe tl74$ 183Zi wrote the following lines which people have quoted in modern tima as a Christmas wish or greeting: “Health enough to make work a pleaWealth enough to support your needs; Strength to battle wlth difficulties and overcome them; Grace enough to confess your slns and forsake them; Patience enough to toll untll some good is accomplished; Charlty enough to see some good in your neighbor; Love enough to move you to be useful and helpful to others; Faith enough to make real the thlngs of God; Hope enough to remove all anxious fears concerning the future,” While space won’t permit quoting from them. may l just mention five classic 19th Century literary works which neva seem to grow old: Clunrles Dickens “A Christmas Carol,” Henry Van Dyke’s “The Other Wise O. Henry’s “Gift of the Magi,” Clement C. Moore’s poem, “‘Twas the Night Before Cliristmas.” atnd Francis P. Churcln’s memtrable editorial in the New York Sun, “Yes, Virginia. there ls a Santa Claus.” Friendships seem especially dear in this season. The late modern poet Elsie Moore Lott of Los Argelu penned the following: “Wherever our footsteps may wander. Whatever our pathway befall. At Chrlsnnas we measure our treasures By friendships. the best of them sll.” A final literary selection. “A Christmas Prayer” by Scotish writer Robert Louis Stevenson 11850-9-ll: “I-lelp us rightly to remember the birth of Jesus. that we may shore in the song of the angels, the gladness of the shepherds. and the worship of the wise men. Clostthe door of hate and open the door of lone all over the world. Let kindness come with every gift. and good desire with ever; greeting. “Dellver us from evil by the blessings that Christ brings, and teach us to be merry with clean beans. May the Christmas monnlng make us happy in he- thy children. and the Christmas evening bring us to our beds with grateful thoughts; forgiving and forgiven. for .lesus’ sake. Amen.” ‘