Posted by
peripheral on Thursday, December 17, 2009 4:58:56 AM
From My Perspective - - -
Colloquialisms (characteristic of or appropriate to ordinary or
familiar conversation rather than formal speech or writing; informal)
are an integral part of the English Language. Idioms and Nuances abound
in it. Phrases such as “Hell Hath No Fury…” and/or “Heaven Help Us…”
and/or ”Outside The Box…” and/or :Break Out Of Your Comfort Zone…” are
employed as a response or an interjection and may have no immediate
application to the subject being considered. Some Colloquialisms appear
in the Charles Dickens Classic: A Christmas Carol.
Ebenezer Scrooge is one of the principle characters. A Christmas Carol
(see Wikipedia) is “…about miserly, cold, unfeeling, old and
curmudgeonly Ebenezer Scrooge and his secular conversion and redemption
after being visited by four ghosts on Christmas Eve.” The story also
includes reference to: Bob Cratchit who is …the abused, underpaid clerk
of Ebenezer Scrooge… In the story, Cratchit is seen at work, where he
copies letters by hand in an under-heated dismal little cell…and in his
small…home with his large family on the following Christmas Day and a
future one, gatherings which Scrooge visits invisibly with the Ghost of
Christmas Present and the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come, respectively.
Cratchit is repeatedly described as little, and clothes himself in a
tattered white comforter, not being able to afford a coat. Though
Cratchit is treated poorly by Scrooge…he is not given wages enough to
feed his family a proper Christmas dinner, he remains loyal to his
employer, even in face of the protestations of his wife. It is partly
through concern for the plight of Cratchit's youngest son, the frail
and crippled Tiny Tim, that Scrooge makes the transformation from miser
to philanthropist, offering Cratchit a raise and discussion of his
affairs.”
Tiny Tim is a cheerful child in spite of his frailty and physical
limitations. When Scrooge is visited by The Ghost of Christmas Present
he is shown just how ill Tim really is, and that Tim will die unless he
receives treatment. When visited by The Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come
all he sees of Tim is his crutch, as Tim has died. This, and several
other visions, lead Scrooge to reform his ways. At the end of the
story, Dickens makes it explicit that Tim did not die…” As the Book
closes, one becomes aware of the Tiny Tim Train when he cries "God
Bless Us, Every One!" Yes, indeed – God Bless Us Everyone – more than a
colloquialism – one that could be a recognition or prayer: God Bless Us
Everyone!
What if you decided to “live outside the box” this Christmas and
instead of lavishing gifts upon ourselves or our children, we thought
of the poor in the world and practical ways by which we could alleviate
their burden of wants, hunger, poverty - - - World Vision shares a very
Innovative and Useful Idea for meeting the Food Needs of a growing
number of people in the world was this year’s goal. Some gift ideas are
on: www.worldvisiongifts.org, or you can write: World Vision; PO Box
70359; Tacoma, WA 98481-0359
As A Family, you could share in the practical provision for different ones by giving a gift for…
A Pair of Chickens $ 25.00 A Sheep $105.00
A Dairy Cow $500.00 A Goat $ 75.00
A Pair of Goats $150.00 5 Ducks $ 30.00
1 Family Fishing Kit $ 40.00
6 Rabbits $ 96.00 1 Pig $195.00
A Donkey $225.00 2 Oxen and Plow $575.00
To Dig & Stock A Fish Pond $200.00
In James 1:27, we are told: “Religion that is pure and undefiled before
God, the Father, is this: to visit orphans and widows in their
affliction…” The Message translates this verse: “Real religion, the
kind that passes muster before God the Father, is this: Reach out to
the homeless and loveless in their plight, and guard against corruption
from the godless world.” Embrace and Employ the Tiny Tim Trait – “God
Bless Us Everyone” – and - Pray for the Orphans Widows & Hungry in
our World… From our Surplus we can Sacrifice to meaningfully and
creatively help others to have a Merry Christmas. Consider these things
with me!