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"It is a good thing to observe Christmas day. The mere marking of times and seasons, when men agree to stop work and make merry together, is a wise and wholesome custom. It helps one to feel the supremacy of the common life over the individual life. It reminds a man to set his own little watch, now and then, by the great clock of humanity which runs on sun time.

But there is a better thing than the observance of Christmas day, and that is, keeping Christmas.

Are you willing to forget what you have done for other people, and to remember what other people have done for you; to ignore what the world owes you, and to think what you owe the world; to put your rights in the background, and your duties in the middle distance, and your chances to do a little more than your duty in the foreground; to see that your fellow-men are just as real as you are, and try to look behind their faces to their hearts, hungry for joy; to own that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life; to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe, and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness--are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.

Are you willing to stoop down and consider the needs and the desires of little children; to remember the weakness and loneliness of people who are growing old; to stop asking how much your friends love you, and ask yourself whether you love them enough; to bear in mind the things that other people have to bear on their hearts; to try to understand what those who live in the same house with you really want, without waiting for them to tell you; to trim your lamp so that it will give more light and less smoke, and to carry it in front so that your shadow will fall behind you; to make a grave for your ugly thoughts, and a garden for your kindly feelings, with the gate open--are you willing to do these things even for a day? Then you can keep Christmas.

Are you willing to believe that love is the strongest thing in the world--stronger than hate, stronger than evil, stronger than death--and that the blessed life which began in Bethlehem nineteen hundred years ago is the image and brightness of the Eternal Love? Then you can keep Christmas.

And if you keep it for a day, why not always?

But you can never keep it alone."

~Henry Van Dyke~

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SHARKMAN

A great sentiment there Sharkman - and IMO, not just for Christmas but for life in general, irrespective of personal beliefs.

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Driver8

Site Moderator

Amen. Beautifully written. I needed that. Thank you.

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"I don't got the bright watch I got the right watch" -Jay Z

That's good

Merry Christmas!

Best post of the year.

I had my family read this. Merry Christmas, Tom, and Happy Holidays to all .

Sent from my ADR6425LVW using Tapatalk 2

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Scott

AP Royal Oak 15400, silver
Zenith Chronomaster El Primero Classic Cars
Vintage gold Corum
Rolex DJ 36 TT, oyster dial, oyster/smooth
Baume & Mercier Riviera 200m, silver dial/aquamarine bezel
Breitling Superocean 57, rose/stainless

Thanks Scott. My Dad used to read this to us as kids after the presents were open and the excitement wore down. He never announced why, but we knew.

Merry Christmas.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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SHARKMAN

Always a good reminder. Merry Christmas to all!

+1 - nice to remember that it's not Commercialism-run-wild-mas.

Great post Tom, thanks. Merry Christmas !

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Chrono Jetstream
Montbrilliant 1903
Aerospace E79362

Merry Christmas all!

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a few Pams...