25 ways Christmas is different this year

THIS ABOUT SAYS IT ALL

25 WAYS WE'RE DIFFERENT THIS CHRISTMAS

1. Last Christmas we were thinking
about all the things we didn't
have; this Christmas we are thinking
about all the things we do have.

2. Last Christmas we were placing wreaths
on the doors of our homes; this Christmas
we are placing wreaths on the graves of our heroes.

3. Last Christmas we were letting our sons
play with toy guns; this Christmas we
are teaching them that guns are
not toys.

4. Last Christmas we were counting our money;
this Christmas we are counting
our blessings.

5. Last Christmas we were lighting candles
to decorate; this Christmas we
are lighting candles to commemorate.

6. Last Christmas we paid lip service to
the real meaning of the holidays;
this Christmas we are paying homage to it.

7. Last Christmas we were digging deep
into our bank accounts to find money
to fly home for the holidays; this Christmas
we are digging deep into our
souls to find the courage to do so.

8. Last Christmas we were trying not to
let annoying relatives get the best
of us; this Christmas we are trying to
give the best of ourselves to them.

9. Last Christmas we thought it was
enough to celebrate the holidays; this
Christmas we know we must also find
ways to consecrate them.

10. Last Christmas we thought a man who
could rush down a football field was a hero;
this Christmas we know a man who
rushes into a burning building is
the real one.

11. Last Christmas we were thinking about
the madness of the holidays; this
Christmas we are thinking about the
meaning of them.

12. Last Christmas we were getting on one
another's nerves; this Christmas
we are getting on our knees.

13. Last Christmas we were giving thanks for
gifts from stores; this Christmas we
are giving thanks for gifts from GOD.

14. Last Christmas we were wondering how to
give our children all the things that money
can buy; this Christmas we are wondering
how to give them all the
things money can't (peace, security).

15. Last Christmas we were thinking about
all the pressure we are under at
the office; this Christmas we are thinking
about all the people who no
longer have an office to go to.

16. Last Christmas we were singing carols;
this Christmas we are singing anthems.

17. Last Christmas we were thinking how
good it would feel to be affluent;
this Christmas we are thinking how good
it feels to be alive.

18. Last Christmas we thought angels were
in heaven; this Christmas we know
they are right here on earth.

19. Last Christmas we were contemplating
all the changes we wanted to make
in the new year; this Christmas we
are contemplating all the changes we will
have to make in this new reality.

20. Last Christmas we believed in the power
of the pocketbook; this Christmas we believe
in the power of prayer.

21. Last Christmas we were sharing /
spreading / listening to gossip; this
Christmas we are sharing / spreading
and listening to the Gospel.

22. Last Christmas we were complaining
about how much of our earnings went
to taxes; this Christmas we comprehend
that freedom isn't free.

23. Last Christmas we valued things
that were costly; this Christmas we
value things that are holy.

24. Last Christmas the people we idolized
wore sports uniforms; this
Christmas the people we idolize wear
police, firefighter and military uniforms.

25. Last Christmas peace on earth is
something we prayed for on Sunday
morning; now it's something we pray
for every day.

Everyone have a Merry Christas and a Happy New Year!!

[ December 22, 2001: Message edited by: Si Allen ]

Gonna print this out and display it proudly.

Now, don't any of you guys call him and old pervert any more!

When he went to harness the reindeer, he found that one of them was about to
give birth and two had jumped the fence and were out somewhere. He ran around in
a panic until he found them, then went inside and Mrs. Claus told Santa that her
mother was coming to visit! Needless to say, this stressed poor Santa even more.

Then, when he began to load up the sleigh, one of the runners cracked and the
sack fell to the ground and scattered toys everywhere. Fuming, Santa found a
couple of carpenter elves to fix the sleigh and went into the house for a cup of
coffee and a shot of whiskey.

When he went to the cupboard, he found that the elves had been hitting the
liquor and there was nothing left to drink. An empty bottle fell out of the
cabinet and shattered all over the floor. Scowling, he went to get the broom and
found that mice had chewed up the straw and it was hardly usable.