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Believe

"Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind." Mary Ellen Chase

Forty-five years ago on Christmas Eve, I stood by a fish pond outside our home in a small community in the Philippines.

I believed in the Christmas story. Christ was born that night in Bethlehem almost 2,000 years ago.  I believed the light from our Christmas tree symbolized the light of Christ.

I believed in both Santa Claus and the spirit of giving.  The big guy was coming to my new house tonight, slide down the chimney and leave me some stuff. Not wanting him to be hungry on this long journey, I left him cookies.

Looking at the stars that night 5,000 miles from my home, I asked my Dad about the Christmas star. He told me that the star was a miracle that told the world that his Son was born that night. I believed my Dad. And why not, he was trained to navigate by the stars in case he ever got lost.
Every year since then, I go out to look at the stars on Christmas Eve. I think of my Dad. He found his way home 11 years ago. I think of the stars that have shown me the way when I've been lost. Lord knows I have been lost in darkness more than a few times. And I think of the greatest miracle of all, the one I learned about 45 years ago tonight.  

I still believe.

Merry Christmas from all of us to all of you!