Blog 58

A little girl jumped up into Santa’s lap. Santa asked the usual question. “And what would you like for Christmas?”, asked Santa.  The child stared at him open mouthed and shocked for a minute, then gasped, “Didn’t you get my email?”

 

The store’s Santa Claus gave little Jeanie a candy cane. Her mother said, “What do you say, Jeanie?” Jeanie looked up at Santa and said, “Charge it!”

We are experiencing Christmas in Vienna, and it’s beautiful here. Our good friend, Dennis Jale has brought the Imperials here for nine years now for his Christmas shows. We started out in Zurich, Switzerland and now will end up here in Vienna Friday and Saturday at two Cathedrals. We sing our songs, back him on his Christmas songs and make new friends. The Austrian people are so welcoming to us “southern boys” who talk funny and can’t speak a word of German except Schnitzel. If it’s about food, we KNOW! I have learned to say, Danke, which means thank you, after I get the Schnitzel. We are staying at the wonderful Intercontinental Hotel and the hotel staff is so helpful. The breakfasts are the BEST. You can special order omelets or eggs any way you like them.

I was thinking last night as we finished the show, we sing Silent Night acapella to the audience and they, in turn, sing it back to us in German. What a beautiful way to end a Christmas show! I miss Hark the Herald Angels Sing, Oh Holy Night, Joy To the World, It Came Upon a Midnight Clear, Oh Little Town of Bethlehem, and so many of the carols I sang in church many years ago. Don’t you? Silent Night, Holy night. All is calm, all is bright. Round yon virgin mother and child, holy infant so tender and mild. Sleep in heavenly peace. What a beautiful message of peace and goodwill in a chaotic world of fighting and arguing.

 

Christmas is the most wonderful time of the year when we renew our relationships with family whom we love so much, share time and love with them, and show our love by exchanging gifts. However, were it not for the gift of the Christ child, Christmas would not exist. He came into our world to make us part of His forever world. It’s wonderful to know that God loved us so much, He gave His only son to die for a lost world. The greatest gift ever given inspires us to give back what we have to Him who gave his all for us.