Thoughtful Moments

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 7, Issue 36, 24 December 1943, Page 2

Thoughtful Moments

(Supplied by the Whakatsuit Mimst e.is' Association).

CHRISTMAS

Oh, day of memories sweet fo me, | I think of Christmas past and gone, i Of some, long parted by the sea. Ami some who have long since passed Oil, Some Avho were once the first to greet. Old Christmas, with a smiling face; Hut whom avo never more shall meet On earth,, in their accustomed place; And yet, per chance., they are more, near Than Avhen on earth we saw them here. I saw in fancy, once again Those friends around the festive board; Some who are seA T erod by the main. And those who now are Avith their Lord; Their A'oices ringing down the years Again join in the Christmas song: Ridding us banish all our fears. And still: the. melody prolong. With angels and arch-angels sing. Praises to our eternal King. Our Christmas hero shall have an end, Each makes one less for us below, Rut in the home to which avo tend, We'll meet the friends of long ago; For they. too. at this Christmas-tide Will join to celebrate the day: We hero., lliey on the- other side, To Christ our Lord, due tribute pay, Who came that death might vanquished bo. In lil'e and immortality. Fairlio. Thornton. To-day avo hear much of Reconstruction after the war and, problems of rehabilitation for men avlio have given up .so many precious years of life for our protection, but what mostly affects us as home makers wiM be. the readjustment with which .many women will be faced. Women have, in every sphere of life, and throughout the ages, shown themselves capable of braA'ely facing all kinds of difficulties, and rising aboA-e. their troubles: in our time, particularly during the last two. or three years, they have proved their ability to do Avork in all departments of -life..

OUR SUNDAY MESSAGE

All I his has boon splendid; lor nothing has boon too big to. attempt. Tho question Ave soon have to lace, however, is: are we prepared to iolurn willingly to a<l! the smaller thin'gs of life which in themselves are .so important? Are we willing to give up tho more spectacular work and once again be busy in our homes., surrounding those who ha\e been protecting us with our understanding love, sympathy and devotion? As Mrs \Y hi toil aw says in her j excellent little book. "When the Boys Come Home" —''When all the need lor soldiers' parcels, concerts, E.P.S. and. Red Cross anil other war work is over, will their strenuous and self-sacrificing efforts, in. themselves., have .increased our capacity for showing patience, endurance, good humour, generosity, forgiveness? Will we have stored up, in ourselves, inexhaustible resources of strength and courage?" In many oases years of varying experiences for both husband and wife will have to be bridged. Readjustments' may not be easy. As Ave hope tor Peace, 'let us ourselves prepare for peace in the homo, without which peace in the world cannot be established. We .shall need to be. unselfish, to see the other persons' point of view, to be large-hearted and broad-mind-ed. i;n the world at large there will be so many wrongs to be set light, | bol'o.re Ave can settle to a lile where jail peoples can be happy, this can only be done it Christian principles p rev a id. Oivcc again we realise, that these things can only be accomplished by individual effort, and : A\*e know that in many cases women must take the lead, and be big enough to maintain their stand, showing their thankfulness in their homes. Often it is easy to take the high road in the big things, but hard and wearying Avhen Ave come to the. small things of life: here lies the real test. Christmas, 11)43, should bring to us quite a lot of happiness, but may Christmas haA'c a speeial message of peace and ho.pe to those suffering from loss and anxiety, and may we all enjoy rest and relaxation (luring .the coming year. Winifred Halil.