Ted ONeal - Making Christmas Count: A Kids Guide to Keeping the Season Sacred

Written by Ted ONeal Illustrated by R. W. Alley Abbey Press All rights reserved, including without limitation the right to reproduce this ebook or any portion thereof in any form or by any means, whether electronic or mechanical, now known or hereinafter invented, without the express written permission of the publisher. Text copyright 2006 by Ted ONeal Illustrations copyright 2006 by Saint Meinrad Archabbey ISBN: 978-1-4976-8304-4 Abbey Press Publications
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St. Meinrad, Indiana 47577
www.abbeypress.com Distributed by Open Road Distribution
345 Hudson Street
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www.openroadmedia.com This book is dedicated to R. W.

Alley, whose creative energies and talents bring joy and wisdom to a childs world.

Kids, especially, dont need to be told that Christmas counts. They are generally tuned in to the excitement and anticipation! And yet, children can be among the first to forget what it is about the season that really counts. Much of this may have to do with what our cultureand we ourselvesteach and practice. And yet, we who are Christians know that Christmas is no ordinary feast; celebrating the birth of our Savior is indeed cause for excitement and enthusiasm on a genuinely deeper level. Obviously, we grown-ups also enjoy the less sacred aspects of the season: gift-giving, decorating, caroling, feasting at the table, reuniting with family and friends. But, upon reflection, we find that many of these caring and sharing moments truly are sacred in themselves and areor can becomespiritual experiences.

Christmas, after all, is about the spirit of love: Love come down to reside with us andmoreto save us. This little illustrated book tries to communicate that central message to young people. And so it is a message about making Christmas count in all its facets and flavors; it is a book about recognizing the deepest reasons for the season. Yes, every bit of Christmas countsand helping children keep the season sacred is one of the best presents we adults can offer them! May this book lend a hand. Ted ONeal FOURTEEN Gazillion I t sounds like the biggest possible number there isand its how many years it seems like youve been waiting for Christmas. Its the longest time ever! D id you know there were billions of years before the first Christmas, too? And then about 2,000 years ago, it finally happened: Jesus was born, and there has been a Christmas every year since! T here will be a Christmas this year, too.

So how can you make it one of the best ones ever? How can you make sure every bit of Christmas counts? THIRTEENan Unlucky Number? D o you know the word superstition? A superstition is a belief or trust in something thats not necessarily true. Some people believe that the number 13 is unlucky, for instance. Thats a superstition. B ut would you feel unlucky if you had 13 presents waiting for you under the tree at Christmas? Or what if you had 13 inches of snow on Christmas Eveand Santa made it to your house anyway?! A t Christmas, all of us have reasons to feel lucky, to feel blessed. What are some of the reasons you feel lucky and blessed? TWELVE Days of Christmas Y ou probably know the song The Twelve Days of Christmas. You know: On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me? Well, the 12 days are really the 12 days after Christmas.

T he 12 days begin with Christmas and end with the Epiphany. The Epiphany remembers the day the Three Wise Men came and gave gifts to Jesus. In some places, families give each other a small gift on every one of the 12 days as a way of continuing this celebration. Other families wait to open their Christmas gifts on Epiphany. T he gifts remind us that Christmas is about giving. ELEVEN Ideas for What to Give G etting presents is nice, of course. ELEVEN Ideas for What to Give G etting presents is nice, of course.

But when we give, we really make Christmas count. And giving presents doesnt mean just giving neat toys or things that can be wrapped in pretty paper. Here are 11 other really nice things to give: 1. Draw a picture for Grandpa. 2. 3. 3.

Donate money to help children whose families have very little. 4. Help your parents take cans of food to the food bank. 5. Visit a nursing home. 6.

Sing in the church choir. 7. Send homemade Christmas cards to relatives far away. 8. Be nice to someone you may not like very much. 9.

Give a big Christmas hug to your brother or sister or mom or dad. 10. Do the dishes after the Christmas dinner. 11. Say a prayer for someone who may not be having a merry Christmas, because of sickness or suffering.

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