Keeping Christ in Christmas

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Throughout the years I have acquired many special Christmas memories. Fond recollections of new bikes, a cherished Mickey Mouse watch, getting engaged and, of course, celebrating the first Christmases of our two wonderful daughters are all precious to me.

However, one particular Christmas stands out in my mind but not for the typical reasons. It started in the summer of 2004, when I met a very special family. Tommy, the dad, had cancer that was rapidly progressing. He and his wife had two children. Bo was a nine-yearold boy and his sister Marie a ten-year-old girl. The family was in a very difficult situation when I met them.

Previous life choices and the current health issues they faced led to them being referred to an outreach ministry that I was working with in the area. The family soon began attending the church I was pastoring in the Rosewood community of Wayne County. Tommy’s condition steadily deteriorated over the coming months. By the time our church group visited their home to sing Christmas Carols, Tommy was hardly able to sit up.

He was admitted into Wayne

Memorial just a few days before Christmas and continued to decline.

On Christmas Eve morning Bo and Marie started staying with my family so that their mother could be at the hospital with Tommy.

Christmas Eve morning I went to visit Tommy in the hospital. By this time he gave no response to anyone who spoke to him. At their mother’s request I went to my home at mid afternoon and picked up Bo and Marie and brought them to see their father. They entered the hospital room, walked to the bedside and spoke to their dad who made no reaction to their voices. After a brief visit and them telling their dad they loved him, we left around 4 p.m.

As we quietly walked down the hospital hallway I knew that this would probably be the last time they would see their dad alive. It was a long walk to the van to say the least.

We had just left the hospital park-

ing lot headed to my parents’ home for a family Christmas Eve gathering. A couple of miles down the road Bo suddenly said with much urgency that he had not got his dad anything for Christmas. Marie immediately echoed the same thing. It was apparent that this was very important to them and obviously something that needed to be done right away.

I turned towards Berkeley Boulevard and we made our way through the afternoon traffic to Kmart. As we rode toward the store I asked them for an idea of what they thought their dad would like. After a brief moment Bo said with certainty, “Eagles, dad loves eagles.”

The Kmart parking lot was just like the store itself, packed. It was a chaotic scene as the store was preparing to close, rushing shoppers with announcements every few minutes to “please make your final selections and move to a checkout right away.” We searched the store quickly yet thoroughly, looking intently for anything that included an eagle, coming up with absolutely nothing. We checked the coffee cups, lamps, decorative wall hangings, and every knick-knack on every aisle, only to come to the conclusion that Kmart sold nothing that featured an eagle.

We checked with sales associates and anyone else we could ask.

Soon we found ourselves at the front of the store, empty handed and with the children visibly disappointed. As we stood there, feeling a little desperate knowing that other stores were closed or soon clos-

ing, I happened to look a few feet away and saw something wonderful. It was a display of fancy looking pocket watches with a variety of designs and patterns, including one with a gold-colored eagle with wings spread as he soared over a mountain. The children instantly loved it so we bought the watch and quickly left the store.

My first thoughtless reaction at this point was to head home; however it occurred to me that we had to go back to the hospital right away to be sure the children would have a chance to give their Christmas gift to their dad. Their mom look surprised when we entered the room. Bo and Marie moved quietly to their dad’s bedside and Bo softly laid the pocket watch into his hand. They both said, “Merry Christmas, I love you Daddy” to their father and stood there staring at him. At that moment Tommy did something that he had not done for nearly a day, he lifted his hand and moved his head, a response that assured his children that he appreciated the gift and loved them as well.

We soon left the room and went to my parents’ house to spend Christmas Eve with my family. Everyone there knew the children’s situation and treated them with great love and tenderness. After our meal and exchanging gifts we went home. The children were just put to bed when my phone rang. A friend of mine who was also close to the family was calling from the hospital and suggested that I should

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return there since it looked like Tommy would soon pass away.

I left home right away and returned to Wayne Memorial to offer support to Tommy’s wife and parents. Tommy died around 2 o’clock on Christmas morning. It was about 4:30 a.m. when I made it back home. As I quietly slipped through the house Marie met me in the living room. In the darkness she asked, “Are you Santa Clause?” “No sweetheart, it’s just me,” I replied.

A couple of hours later our kids woke us up early so that we, along with Bo and Marie, could open our gifts in the traditional Christmas fashion. Of course we had presents there for them as well as our own two daughters.

Their mother had asked me not to tell them about their

dad till later in the day so that they could enjoy Christmas.

The children stayed with us during the morning and joined our gathering with my wife’s family which was at our home.

Early in the afternoon I took Bo and Marie to their home and stood by as their mother explained that their dad had died.

After a few minutes of opening the presents that were there for them, the children returned home with me to stay for a couple more days. I officiated the funeral a couple of days later, a sad and difficult event for sure.

Bo and Marie seemed to cope well with their dad’s death. Not too long after New Year’s they moved from the area and because of their eventual circumstances we lost

contact with them.

However, that Christmas has stayed close to my family’s hearts. Being so near these children and the traumatic experience they lived through even now helps keep our hearts focused on others. We are all the more aware now that the world abounds with Bo’s and Marie’s, children and adults who face pain, challenging circumstances and difficulties that deserve our attention and compassionate action on a daily basis.

In the years since that tearfilled Christmas, God has given my family numerous opportunities to show the love of Christ to others whose lives are marked by perplexing situations and needs, opportunities for which we are thankful.

Christmas is the season of

joy, peace and hope brought by the advent of Jesus Christ.

Many people use this season as a time to serve others by reaching out and giving to family, friends and others that we do not even know. No doubt this is a great way to celebrate Jesus’ birth. Hopefully we will all find ways to continue this throughout the year. However, the ultimate gift that Jesus offers is the way to have a relationship with God through faith in Him. Of all the things we do for people at Christmas, leading others to a relationship with Him is the ultimate act of lasting help that we can accomplish.

Tommy accepted Christ before he died. He knew what it meant to be forgiven of his failures and restored to a rela-

tionship with God. He entered heaven on Christmas day, 2004. His children were taught that God loves them and that Jesus was born on earth to reveal God’s love through his death.

My hope is that they remember my family for our love and compassion. But more than that I pray that they remember the true reason Jesus came and why we celebrate Christmas.

I trust that God used my family’s actions and teaching to somehow lead them to accept Christ so that each year Christmas is more than a painful reminder that their dad is no longer with them, but a celebration that one day they will join him in heaven for eternity.

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Just as it did on that first Christmas night, may the light of His love inspire and guide you throughout this holy season and beyond.

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When The Times asked me to write something on the topic “What Christmas Means to Me,” a few words came to mind. Of course I can’t forget that Christmas is the time we celebrate the birth of our Savior Jesus the Christ.

Words like: Children, Appreciation, Thankful, Miracles, and Memories. These words are very important to my meaning of Christmas.

When I think of Christmas, I have to think of Children. I guess that’s because when I was growing up, my grandparents and other elderly people would say, “Christmas is for children.” That saying is so true because Christmas brings out the “child” in me, and I am 59 years old. There were seven of us and, growing up, we did not have a lot. Sometimes we didn’t even have enough. At Christmas, we would always get happy, because we knew that we were going to get

“specials.”

Not special sales, as we look for today, but “specials.”

Special food.

Special attention. Special gifts that you know were just for you.

We were special individuals for the season of Christmas, so the child always comes out of me at Christmas time.

I still look for “my specials” every Christmas. I jump up and down when I get my gifts, and I still wonder what is wrapped up in the box under the tree for me. I am still special at Christmas.

Christmas also means Appreciation. No matter what it is that is wrapped up or cooked, I have learned to appreciate it. I ap-

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easy for us to be thankful for just a little bit. I remember Christmas when I was 10 years old, my brother Anthony, who was 13, had worked some odd jobs to have money for Christmas. And on Christmas Eve, he went shopping. We lived in the country, so he had to walk to Stantonsburg to Rogers’ Store to shop.

He came back with gifts already wrapped. The gifts he had for me and my two younger brothers were wrapped together. It was shaped and sounded funny, so we asked him what it was. He said a turkey, on a platter, with a fork and a spoon.

We kind of believed him (we were a little naïve). Christmas morning, his gift was the first one we opened, because we were curious. In the wrap was a football (turkey), a dart board (the platter), and a jump rope (the fork and spoon). We laughed

Our entire staff wishes everyone a very happy and healthy holiday season.

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Proverbs 3:5 - Trust in the Lord with all thine hearts, and lean not unto thine own understanding.

REDDING’S

preciated a brand new pair of shoes now and then. I love the shoes, but I also appreciate the box that the shoes come in. You see, I would get a pair of new shoes in October or November, but Ma would save the shoebox until Christmas. That is what she would put our Christmas Specials in: a shoebox. Christmas morning we would go to our respected shoebox, my two younger brothers and me. Our specials would be in our boxes. Apples, oranges, tangerines, Christmas candy, pencils, socks and a toy or two would be next to the shoebox. So I learned to appreciate shoes, but more so for the box. Christmas, to me, means a box of Appreciation.

I am also Thankful at Christmas, because of specials, boxes, and the small things that go in the boxes. As I said, we didn’t have a lot so it was

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and were thankful. We were so thankful for family, food and gifts that no gift was too small or too cheap. We had some specials from a special person.

I am Thankful at Christmas time.

We can never forget Miracles at Christmas. I have always looked for something extraordinary to happen during the Christmas season. Christmas brings miracles and I just expect them to come. Last year, on the 24th of October, I received a miracle by the name of Ayden. Ayden was born to my daughter Sebrina and her husband David.

Sebrina is a cancer survivor and was not supposed to be able to have any more children

because of the cancer in 2010.

But a miracle happened and the cancer was gone. In 2011, she got the news that she was pregnant, and it was considered a high-risk pregnancy, because of both the former cancer and her age (she was 40 at the time). She had to go to Greenville to the Woman’s Clinic for her doctor’s appointments. She would feel bad sometimes, but she and the doctors thought it was the flu. On one certain day, she went to the emergency room, checked in at the desk and excused herself to the rest room.

It was there that the miracle happened, as her illness turned out to be labor pains while she was only 23 weeks

pregnant and Ayden was not scheduled to be born until February 15, 2012. But on that day, October 24, 2011, Ayden Andrew Wise was a miracle, born in the commode, in a restroom. Somebody called out that the baby was dead. But one doctor wouldn’t accept that, and he wrapped up the baby in his coat and ran down the hall with a miracle. Ayden weighed 1lb, 9oz.

It didn’t look good, but you just can’t dismiss a miracle.

My daughter was checked into the hospital and was surrounded by doctors and nurses. The baby was put in a special intensive care unit for premature newborns. By Thanksgiving, his kidney

stopped. But he kept fighting. They had to do surgery, but miracles still happen. By December of 2011, he was still in the hospital, fighting for his life. His lungs were about to collapse, so his breathing was not good.

But by Christmas, he began to get a little better — it was the season for miracles. He came home from the hospital in March of this year. Ayden’s parents were told that he would not be able to hear. Another miracle though: he can hear. He’s rolling over, talking baby jabber, and getting ready for his first Christmas at home this year. Christmas means Miracles to me.

My Christmases are filled

with children, appreciation, being thankful, miracles and memories.

We should never forget where we come from. We can be thankful for a little, and as we are blessed with more we can remember that miracles do happen.

So I do thank God for the specials that I got then, and I am grateful for the lot that I get now. I appreciated the shoes, and I can use the box to hold my specials, my miracles and my memories. Keep you box for your memories of your miracles. I wish all of you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. God bless everybody.

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When I was a child, my family and I use to get in the car, ride around and look at the lights at Christmas. It was a great experience seeing the decorated houses and places of business. This tradition somehow seemed to add to the wonder and splendor of the Christmas season to me.

Christmas also meant gifts and family get-togethers, along with Church Christmas programs and a bag of fruit that we all received at church as we left the building to go home.

As I have gotten older, those traditions of years past have aided in the start and continuation of some traditions of our own with my family. We enjoy decorating our home, looking at the decorations of others and enjoying getting together with others to share food and joy. We still have family get-togethers and Church Christmas programs that we attend. One of our traditions that we have continued, as a family, that we use to do with my grandmother as I was growing up, is before we open presents, we always take time to read the Christmas story and pray. I can still remember the excitement in my children’s eyes on Christmas morning when they would get up to open presents. They would always wait until we read the story and had our prayer and at times, talked about what we were thankful for, before they would open the presents. The most important part of Christmas to us is realizing that Christmas, first and foremost, is all about Jesus. Although historians tell us that the time of his birth was probably not around December 25, the premise of celebrating life and the giver of life during the midst of the winter season should be a great encouragement to all.

Luke 2:10-14 states “And the angel said unto them, Fear not:

for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.” To reflect on the hope that we have in Christ and all that means to people everywhere, is of great eternal value. John 3:16 tells us “For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten son, that whosoever believeth in Him, should not perish but should have everlasting life.” This is the true meaning of Christmas – the coming to earth of the Saviour of all mankind.

Because He lives, we can live with hope and expectation!

What does Christmas mean to me? It means the celebration of family traditions, spending time with others in homes, as well as church, and recognizing the one who is the real reason for the season – Jesus Christ. May I encourage you, if you do not already have Christmas traditions of your own that recognize Jesus, to begin some, this year, and may Christmas mean more to you than just presents. May Christmas mean the celebration of Jesus to us all! Merry Christmas everyone!

JC Harris

ehold, a virgin shall be with child, and shall bring forth a son.

And they shall call his name Immanuel, which being interpreted is, God with us.

Matthew 1:23 John 3:17 (NIV) For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him.

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The easiest and best way to keep Jesus Christ in your Christmas celebrations is to have him present in your daily life. Keeping Christ in Christmas is more about the way you live your life than the things you say (such as “Merry Christmas” versus “Happy Holidays”).

To truly Keep Him in Christmas, one must reveal, on a daily basis, the character, love and spirit of Christ that dwells in him or her. These can’t help but shine through.

Here are some easy ways to keep Christ as the centerpiece this Christmas season.

Advent Wreath Explain the reason for advent and each candle’s meaning throughout December.

Have Christmas Trivia Another fun way to teach your family and children about the meaning of Christmas and the story

“Adopt a Family” Adopt a family or child for the season - give gifts, cook meals, etc. See page 16 for further options of donating.

A Nativity Scene

Christmas Cleaning Day

Most families have their own nativity scene, but you can give it more meaning besides just putting it out: Read about a nativity character each day with scripture; hide Jesus until Christmas Eve and let the kids try to find him, OR wrap Jesus up and let it be the first gift unwrapped on Christmas morning; start the wise men further away and each day read scripture and move them closer to the manger.

Have a day where you turn on Christmas music, clean out closets and drawers to find clothes you can donate to the needy. Make it an annual tradition.

Write Cards In addtion to your usual holiday cards, send some overseas for men and women serving in the military. Include encouraging verses and notes: http:// www.redcross.org/support/get-involved/ holiday-mail-for-heroes

Church Activities Be involved in your church’s Christmas activities - children’s chorus and pageants, Christmas services, etc.

Prayer Delegation Take each of the Christmas cards you receive and let your family members pick one family to pray for each day of the year (or for Christmas week..)

Stage Your Own Nativity If your family is super creative, have your own family night with your own

live nativity scene or play. Get your family pet in on the fun.

Caroling Get a group of your close family and/ or friends together and take your kids caroling! If you have a truck, throw some hay in the back and make it a hayride to neighbors’ houses to sing.

Christ-Centered Crafts Do hand print art with your kids with messages about “serving hands.” Make a manger and baby jesus, ornaments with scripture, etc. The possibilities are endless...

Deed Box Wrap a gift box and cut a slot in the top of it. Several times a week, have yourself and children write out what they did for Jesus or what they did to honor Him by serving/being nice to others and put the note in the box. Possible post-dinner activity.

Celebrate THE birthday Bake a birthday cake for Jesus (or cupcakes/cookies) with your family and let them decorate them together.

Related: Try baking a cake and put a little plastic Jesus in it for a lucky child to find.

“Let’s Keep Christ in Christmas!”

Celebrate the Savior & the Season with us at

First Free Will Baptist Church of Wilson 4865 Nash Street NW, Wilson Our Christmas Cantata, Silent Night! Holy Night! will be presented on Sunday evening, December 16 at 6:00 pm.

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A short Children’s Program will begin the evening celebration. Refreshments will be served in the church foyer after the Christmas programs.

We invite everyone to join us.

The pain in my throat and chest was excruciating. My left arm was aching and heavy, rendered useless… The room was spinning and I had no breath to call for help while sitting in the rest room at work. With no apparent reason, our Medical Records Manager knocked on the door and entered to find me in a pool of perspiration. (This was the first confirmation of my Savior’s presence during this event).

She promptly summoned my physician/employer who immediately took me to the treatment room. All of my coworkers jumped into place, calling 911, administering aspirin, nitroglycerine, oxygen and performing EKG. I was experiencing a major heart attack.

My blood pressure was too low initially to administer pain medication, however, just prior to my arrival at Wake Med, EMT’s were able to give me IV medication for discomfort. As I remained acutely short of breath, physicians and staff immediately performed catheterization and angioplasty, crushing obstructive clots in the artery and leaving behind unreachable clotting in yet another artery. Symptoms waned, however, and I was admitted to the cardiovascular ICU for four days, Christ remaining at my side.

As I began to recuperate, the physicians ordered a special test to check for further clotting. During the test, an incidental discovery was made… a “large mass” was found on the aortic valve of my heart and was “potentially life threatening.” Plans for immediate

line, PICC lines, as well as an intubation tube (inserted into the trachea to open airway) were in place. I was anesthetized and scrubbed from chin to toes with Betadine, only seconds from the incision.

According to the surgeon and staff, the echo cardiogram was repeated for guidance to the site of the “thumb-sized tumor”…. But wait… “nothing was there!”

The test was repeated. Still nothing. The physicians ordered CT’s, Doppler’s, but the mass couldn’t be located! Surgery was cancelled.

The surgeon went out to speak with my family, who had expected a 4-6 hour procedure. Naturally, they feared the worst had happened. As the physician recounted the events of the previous two hours to them, he continued to say that “there is no explanation.” He continued: “We cannot explain what has happened. I have never

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“For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.” Luke 2:9

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The following story was submitted by a local nurse under the condition of anonymity. She is withholding her name, as she wants “all the glory given to God” for this blessing and wishes no attention drawn to her personally.

open-heart surgery were in progress. My family, my friends and my church had prayer chains in motion nationwide. The anxiety I felt soon became overwhelming as I thought of my husband and mother who depended on me so strongly.

As I prayed for their well being and for the wisdom and guidance of the surgeons and staff, I began to realize that our church family and my own family had stepped into place, watching and caring for my mama and husband. (Praise You, my Jesus!) At this point, while lying in “pre-op,” I told God that I needed to change my prayer. I needed to pray that “His Will be done, no matter the outcome.” With this, He had given me a peace and the anxiety was gone… completely.

I was prepared for open heart surgery. A Swan-Ganz catheter had been sutured into my neck. A Foley catheter, arterial blood

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witnessed anything like this.” My daughter, cousin and sister-in-law all reassured him of the “explanation” for the mysterious disappearance of the mass. In fact, it’s no mystery at all.

God chose to reveal Himself by giving us a miracle! I feel so unworthy but so very blessed to know my Father loves me this much and has specific plans for my life. We should never fail to tell the “mountain” just “how big our God is.” God is in the business of moving those mountains. All He asks is faith no larger than a grain of the mustard seed (Matthew 17:20). As this world sinks deeper into despair, I feel our Father will reveal Himself more and more in the lives of His children.

We are still in the presence of the miracle-working God!

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 wilsontimes.com 11

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I have often heard it said that the spirit of Christmas should be all year long. For our family, this has been a reality. Our grandson, Jalen Ward, was diagnosed with a brain tumor in January and we have seen, in this whole year, more compassion, generosity and kindness that most people see in a lifetime. We have experienced the true meaning of Christian love. Our grandson, Jalen Ward, has believed from day one of his diagnosis that God would heal him and his faith has never wavered. When his doctor told him that his tumor is shrinking and to keep doing what he has been doing, Jalen replied: “I have done nothing. God has done it all!”

We have so much to celebrate this Christmas. Jalen has had surgery at Chapel Hill, Proton Radiation in Jacksonville, Florida, and was asked to participate in a study at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee.

All of these hospitals, doctors, nurses and staff have been blessings in our lives and have not only healed Jalen physically, but emotionally and mentally as well. He was diagnosed at Green-

ville Pediatrics by a wonderful doctor who was led to investigate the cause of Jalen’s headaches. Jalen’s doctors at Chapel Hill performed the surgery and saw to his every need. I believe in God’s miracles, and we have witnessed many along this journey of faith. A fluid leak was seen, but when surgery was to be done, the leak was healed.

The doctor couldn’t explain it, but we knew it was a miracle from God. The doctors at Proton Radiation Therapy in Florida were like family and Jalen spent eight weeks with them.

Every day, the patients were happy and given many reasons to smile, no matter how sick they were.

Around every corner was another blessing.

St. Jude called my daughter Jessica and asked if she would consider allowing Jalen to be a patient there and participate in a study with others who have this rare tumor. Jalen will be a patient there for all of his life and our eyes were opened as to what a great hospital this is for children all over the world.

This Christmas, Jalen is home and is continuing his healing process. We have

so much to celebrate as we have seen firsthand the true, genuine meaning of Christian love and compassion.

During this journey of faith, family, friends, our church family, co-workers, organizations, and strangers have touched our lives by their many kind deeds, prayers, and generosity. All of these gave from their hearts and their love for God. People show God’s love in many ways and are led to do this — expecting nothing in return. Our lives will never be the same as we have truly seen the work of God through Jalen’s journey.

A minister came to our house and said that he was sent by God to come and pray for Jalen. His grandchild previously had a brain tumor and he wanted to assure us that Jalen would be alright.

A lady came to our house and wrote a check because she said that she had people help her when she had cancer in her family.

A man in the post office saw Jalen and recognized him from the newspaper and left money on the table.

These were people that we didn’t know, but were led by God to help Jalen and his family.

Our minister and church family have wrapped their arms around us and we have felt their love and the presence of God everyday of this incredible year. The youth group and leaders volunteered their time to do fundraisers to help with medical expenses.

Love offerings from our church members were given to Jalen and his family that were appreciated more they could ever know.

Organizations, schools, businesses, a dance studio, a beauty shop, and individuals gave donations voluntarily with heartfelt love.

When our granddaughter went to pay for her lunch, her account had already been paid for months in advance.

Meals, snacks, and drinks were prepared by many friends and sent to the hospital and our homes for

Jalen and his family.

Easter baskets and treats were found on Jalen’s porch Easter morning — another gift of love.

Jalen’s aunt and uncle have helped financially and in every way possible.

None of these people were asked to do these wonderful things.

These were special gifts from the heart that were done in Christian love. Jalen read every card and message sent to him and treasured these inspiring well wishes.

As you can see, we have seen the spirit of giving all this year.

Jalen’s algebra teacher gave her students an assignment during Thanksgiving, which was to count their blessings. Jalen said, “I have more blessings than I can count!”

Jalen’s teachers and principal have helped him along the way. So as we celebrate this

Christmas, we will be eternally thankful for all of these wonderful people in our lives and for the presence of God that has guided Jalen through this journey. As we pray this Christmas, we will remember all the children and their families that Jalen has met at the hospitals, Ronald McDonald Houses, and in the world that need God’s healing in their lives.

God has touched us and has given us so many blessings. Our eyes have seen the real meaning of Christmas joy and love this year, and we have tears of joy as we think of the many ways that God’s love has been shown to us in the year 2012.

Christmas all year (seen through the eyes of a grandmother)…

With Much Love, Linda Benton

Chancel Choirs Christmas Cantata Sunday, December 16 • 7:00 p.m.

(Reception Following)

Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion 8:00 p.m.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is Christ the Lord.

Little Rock OFWB Church 6115 Little Rock Ch. Rd., Lucama, NC 252-239-0361

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 wilsontimes.com 13

It happened on November 11, 2010. I received a call that my brother, Teddy Lamm, was in an ambulance on the way to the hospital with heart failure. I prayed all the way to the hospital where our family had gathered. Teddy had to be transported to Wake Med by helicopter.

His condition was very severe.

He died three times before arriving at the hospital. Hospital staff and doctors worked on him through the morning hours, and he was placed in ICU. When I first walked into the room to see him, I almost lost it. A once strong and hard-working man was lifeless and hooked up to so many machines and tubes for survival. It affected me in ways I cannot describe. He was placed in a coma and packed on ice to relieve his heart from working so hard. Days passed and our faith never wavered.

After many, many days, Teddy began to come around. I wanted so much for him to survive. Not only for me, but for his loving wife, Willisteen, and his grandchildren. Teddy and Willisteen have been raising their two grandchildren since their beloved daughter’s (Dena Lamm) life was taken at the hands of her estranged husband. They have done a wonderful job. These two

great kids needed their “Pa.” They depended on him so much. Teddy made a promise to them that he would come back. Through many prayers and skilled hands, he did come back.

He had to learn how to walk all over again. Through his determination and therapy (and many falls), he is walking today. I remember him calling to tell me he had made five steps that day. He would continue to call with excitement… He had made ten steps. Then it became, “I walked up the stairs a little today,” and progressed onto, “I ran just a few steps today.”

So, when my brother came home Christmas Eve of 2010, I received my Christmas miracle I had prayed for.

To see him today, he is truly one of God’s working miracles on earth.

A walking testimony that God is real and that nothing is impossible with Him. Just one touch of God’s favor gave me my brother back, and I thank Him every day. I love you, Teddy!

When I was a young girl my Dad was a tenant farmer. I had eight brothers and sisters. My oldest brother was in the army stationed in Germany. That was a bad time for my family.

A storm had come during tobacco season and lightening had struck and destroyed our packhouse and all its contents.

Dad had no insurance and to top it off his appendix ruptured.

He was in the hospital for a month during which time all our hogs died of colic.

My brother got emergency leave to come home to help out at Christmas time.

One day, we all had been to church and when we got home, we discovered our porch was full of food, clothes, gifts of money.

We were all so thankful for our unseen angels that made that Christmas so special. We never knew who our benefactors were...but I know God blessed them as he had us.

Marie Brown

Rebecca Faison

p.s. Now each Christmas, I not only celebrate the birth of Christ, but also the rebirth of Teddy Lamm.

First United Methodist Church 100 Green Street, Wilson • 252-237-6121

SPECIAL WORSHIP SERVICES AND MUSICAL PRESENTATIONS Dec. 14 - 7:00 p.m. A special Christmas Musical, “Behold the Star”, with Orchestra Dec. 16 - 11:00 a.m. A special Christmas Musical, “Behold the Star”, with Orchestra 5:00 p.m. White Gift Service Dec. 19 - 6:00 p.m. Church-wide Christmas Caroling Christmas Eve - 5:00 p.m. Family Worship, Children Sing 11:00 p.m. Candlelight Communion Service Christmas Day - Christmas Dinner at First Christian Church followed

by Presentation of Gifts at First Methodist 11:30 - 1:00 p.m

Westmoreland’s Youth Intrepretive Presentation Of

“Heaven’s Child” December 16th - 10:30 am

THE MILLS FAMILY CHRISTMAS CONCERT Sunday, December 16th • 6 pm

CHRISTMAS COMMUNION SERVICE

Sunday, December 23rd • 10:30 am

Westmoreland PH Church 3102 Tilghman Rd. N (new loaction just off Lake Wilson Rd.)

After losing my newborn son of 2 ½ weeks in May of 2012, my life changed. He was supposed to have been born in August of 2012, but he was premature. My husband and I both lost our jobs the same week I was put into the hospital, and I was in the hospital over a month. Plus the baby was in the NICU. By us being jobless, that forced us to lose our home and other things…

I have a 10-year-old son that was dealing with all this in the process. He had to be pulled out of his school, etc…

My miracle is to have a great friend by the name of Rhonda Graham that helped make sure, during the last couple of weeks of school for my son, that he ate and got picked up and taken to school every day. Then she would come sit with me at the hospital making sure I had my basic necessities while I was there. She will never know how much that meant to my husband and me…

And my other miracle is my great and loving parents, who took me and my husband and son in to stay until we can get

back on our feet again. They never hesitated to take us in, because if they didn’t, we would be homeless this Christmas. I am not able to work yet — the doctor hasn’t released me.

But I have my family this Christmas, minus my little one, but it is good to be with family that love you and are there for you in the midst of a hardship. For that, I am grateful, and if I don’t get anything for Christmas, that has been a miracle for me right by itself!!

Merry Christmas!

Stephanie Campbell

If it had not been for the Lord, who was on my side, where would I be?

I had a grandson born on December 1, 2011.

When he was born, he stopped breathing. The

Christmas is a time of joy and rejoicing, because it is the “Birth of Christ.”

Without his birth, there wouldn’t be a Christmas.

It is a very spiritual time in our lives, because he gave us so much to be thankful for… Like little children playing with toys, our parents cooking the good old Christmas dinners, the glowing of the tree in the house and the red ribbons hanging on the doors and so many things, the church bells ringing, and the Christ child laying in the manger.

Where today our children are kept warm and

nurse got on the page and called for help and said she needed it, “quick, quick!” While that was going on, I could have lost my mind.

But I remembered my

have blankets, the Christ child had only a stable in the cold, and his parents were freezing. But he was the holy child, sent from heaven, and called “Emmanuel,” the son of Mary and Joseph.

So keep Christ in your heart and give thanks this Christmas to your friends and family and the great blessing it is to be alive.

And enjoy “Christmas” in your heart.

The greatest gift of all is love.

Merry Christmas, Jean Edmondson

Lord Jesus and all I could say was: “In the name of Jesus, touch me, touch me, Lord. In the name of Jesus.”

The doctor said: “You hear him? He’s alright.”

I tell you, it’s something about the name of Jesus.

We must keep Christ in Christmas. My grandson, Nazion O’Neal, just celebrated his first birthday on December 1, 2012.

Vanessa Fox Boykin

626 WARD BLVD. WILSON

Merry Christmas! 291-6226

Wednesday, December 12, 2012 wilsontimes.com 15

The true message of Christmas is not about gifts given or received. Christmas is a reminder of the greatest gift God ever gave mankind, as it states in the WORD, John 3:16: ‘For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son that whosoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.’

Do we actually take time during the holiday season to reflect upon and celebrate the birth of Christ, or even to remember that Jesus Is The Reason For The Season? Or, are we too busy shopping for gifts, attending parties, decorating the Christmas tree, taking the children to visit Santa, baking cookies and drinking egg nog.

What is the best birthday gift we can give to Jesus this holiday season that will truly honor Him? I’m glad you asked, because the WORD answers the question for us. In Matthew 25:35-40, it states: ‘For I was hungry and you gave Me food; I was thirsty and you gave Me drink; I was a stranger and you took Me in; I was naked and you clothed Me; I was sick and you visited Me; I was in prison and

you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him saying ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry... thirsty... a stranger... naked... sick or in prison...”

“And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’” We honor Jesus by performing unselfish acts of kindness for others. This is the best birthday gift we can give Jesus. Being kind to others reflect our love for Christ.

This holiday season, let us celebrate Christ’s birthday as we do our loved ones’ birthdays, with a hand-crafted birthday card to Jesus, a candle on a cupcake or cake, the happy birthday song, and reading the Luke 2:1-17 version of the Birth of Christ. Since the word Christmas begins with the word ‘Christ,’ let us put Christ first his year and truly honor and celebrate His birth.

Remember, Jesus is the Reason for the Season.

Miracles can be so many things. It can be a little thing that stays with you from a child on into your adult life.

As a five-year-old child, I can remember a special Christmas. My dad died when I was two and my brother, who was 17 years older than me, was like a daddy to me. This Christmas, my brother and his wife Carolyn could not be there in the morning when I had Christmas. So they wanted to have Christmas with me and my mother. My brother told me that Santa might come on Christmas Eve night — a little early. Being a five year

old, I remember saying: “No, he can’t come that early.” He told me to come and ride with him and we would look at Christmas lights.

When we got back I still didn’t believe Santa had come that early. My brother told me to look down. When I did, there was something special in the yard. It was a reindeer hoof. My eyes were so big!

Did he really come?!

That will always be a very special Christmas that my brother shared with me.

Gwen Webb

James and Germaine Pinckney

The Adult Choir Presents This Year’s Christmas Cantada

“I Believe”

Sat., Dec. 15th & Sun., Dec. 16th @ 6:30 p.m.

End of the Year Concert with The Easter Family & The Easter Brothers Sun., Dec. 30th @ 6:30 p.m.

Wildwood Free Will Baptist Church 4331 Hwy. 42 West of Wilson, NC

From Forest Hills Rd. the church is located just past Deans Farm.

St. Mary’s OFWB Church 8456 St. Mary’s Church Rd., Kenly, NC CHRISTMAS CANTATA

“The Love of God at Christmas”

Sunday, December 16th • 11:00 am CHRISTMAS PLAY

“The Christmas Guest”

Sunday, December 23 • 6:00 pm Everyone Welcomed

Shiloh Pentecostal Holiness On Lamm Road, 1 mile North of US-264, west of I-95

Everyone Is Welcome!

Shiloh Sanctuary Choir will present the musical, “Silent Night! Holy Night!”.

Created by Russell Mauldin and Sue C. Smith Arranged and Orchestrated

by Russell Mauldin.

Sunday, December 23, 6:00 PM

“Shiloh, A Church to Come Home To” T. Elwood Long, Senior Pastor Jeff Smith, Discipleship Minister & Youth Pastor

237-0597 • www.shilohphc.org

Local agencies are reporting that area Christmas donations for toys and food — despite increased need — are down compared to past years.

Below are a list of organizations working in collaboration with each other. The Wilson County Department of Social Services is creating a master list. Toys for Tots is also involved with these organizations.

Hope Station — 291-7278 The organization accepts toys as well as monetary donations to go toward its annual event, Christmas Shopping for the Kids, which will take place on Tuesday, Dec. 18 at 9 a.m. Registered needy families will be able to “shop” for presents from the donations. Additionally, if community members wish to make a food donation, 3 to 5 pound hams or chickens will be accepted until Dec. 21.

The Salvation Army — 243-2696 The Salvation Army is celebrating its 85th year of service to Wilson County. During 2011, the Army provided assistance to more than 2,500 individuals, including over 700 children who received toys by way of the Army’s Angel Tree program and the toy store, and over 500 families received food for Christmas dinner.

Additional food donation...

CHEW (Children’s Hunger Elimination of Wilson) is holding a food drive at the Shoppes at Brentwood and Walmart through Dec. 23. Organizers are asking for canned vegetables, fruits and meats, dry milk, small boxes of fruit juice, peanut butter, soup, macaroni and cheese, canned pastas, ramen noodles, instant oatmeal and grits and healthy cereals.

Churchwell’s Jewelers, Vaughan’s Jewelers and Quince also are collecting donations for the CHEW food drive.

Wilson Lawn & Garden Equipment, Inc. 2200 Tilghman Rd., Wilson, NC 252-237-5542 • Fax: 252-237-6159 wilsonlawn@myglnc.com Bruce & Rosemarie Turner

New Christian Food Pantry — 265-6165

Marsh Swamp Original Free Will Baptist Church 6661 Rock Ridge School Road, Sims, NC DECEMBER 16 - 6:00 pm

Christmas Program

“Census Time in Bethlehem” DECEMBER 24 - 9:00 pm

Candlelight Communion Service We invite everyone to attend these services

Service Times: Sunday School 10:00 am • Morning Worship 11:00 am

MOORE’S BODY SHOP Complete Body & Paint Repair

Owners: Aubrey Moore & David Moore All Work Guaranteed • Insurance Claims

4133 Hwy. 42 W., Wilson, NC 252-291-5141 • Fax 252-291-9011

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.

4150 Raleigh Road Parkway W. Wilson, NC

www.raleighroad.com

- Luke 2:11

Tommy Sullivan

Robert Vick

101 W. Main St., Elm City, NC • 236-4455 Mon.-Fri. 8:30-5:30 • Sat. 8:30-4:00

Sun., December 23rd Christmas Eve 7:00 PM

Morning Worship 10:30 AM Casa De Dios 4:00 PM