I dedicate my song today to my wife’s cousin, Helena Wong in Hong Kong and my Facebook friend, Mary Walker from Leeds. Both women celebrate their birthday today and we wish them a very happy day.
Today’s my wife, Sheila and I will each sing separately for your children and to the eternal child in each adult. Sheila will sing, ‘Away in a Manger’ with a chorus of children and I will sing a children’s favourite from a Disney film. Both renditions are to celebrate the magic of Christmas that the young child experiences. Both Christmas carol and song involve the presence of a special star.
When you next walk out with a young child on Christmas Eve or tuck them in bed, whether as a parent, grandparent or other family member, show them the stars in the sky and ask them to pick out the brightest star they see. Then, tell them to close their eyes and imagine a poor child somewhere else in the world who will not get a Christmas present on Christmas morning. Then, ask them to think of a lovely present they would give such a child if they could wave a magic wand. When they have thought of their present, ask them to look at the star again and wish upon it. Tell them that everyone has a magic wand, should they wish to use it. Their wand is made up from all the goodness in their hearts and is blessed by the purity of their thoughts and the gentleness and generosity of their actions. Remind them that we all have a magic wand to wave, and we should forever wave it for the betterment of mankind; not only on Christmas Day, but every day of the year.
If we love our children and grandchildren and want them to grow up as good, caring and loving adults, we could do far worse than giving them the most meaningful of all Christmas messages that will serve them well when they leave their childhood behind. Tell them one Christmas Eve, two thousand years ago, a heavenly star showed the shepherds and three wise men where baby Jesus would be born; in a manger in a stable.
Sheila and I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
Love and Peace Bill xxx