No matter how you spell it or analyze it, the most wonderful gift at Christmas is the Christ of Christmas. Everything about the gift is priceless. Don't hurry to rush back to the pauper status of this world and exchange this gift.

The Christ in Christmas is a priceless gift given to all who will accept it. It comes wrapped in love and appreciation for who and what you are regardless of color, race, culture or monetary value. It comes in many shapes and forms, is unbreakable and always available whenever it's needed. It's musical and the sounds of the loving Christ are beautiful to the ear. It sings of love, kindness and compassion and is amplified in the human heart. Nothing is as sweet to the ear. It is timeless, going for centuries, yet can be heard and felt any hour of the day or night with no time off for malicious behavior. It comes with hugs and sometimes tears and in amounts as needed.

Don't send Christmas cards anymore? Give another thought to sending a letter, especially to those you see less often or are confined away from their regular home. If you haven't time to stop and visit, then take some time to write something newsworthy. Don't you enjoy it when you receive a few extra words in your Christmas cards?

Surprise somebody. Call someone. Send a card and make their day. Little things mean a lot.

All the fuss about taking Christ out of Christmas reminds me of a story supposedly true. Who knows? But it’s a good story anyway.

Kindergarteners can not always be predictable, but maybe they know more than we do. If you've been attending the Christmas concerts put on by local students and seen them sit cross legged on the floor of the packed gymnasium, you know how each group got up one by one to perform their songs.

Somehow the song, "Christmas Love" had been slipped into the holiday program. The kindergarten children all got up adorned in bright colored sweaters, fuzzy mittens and bright snowcaps.

Those located in the front row - center stage - held large letters. So, as the class would sing "C is for Christmas," a child would hold up the letter C. The "H" was for happy and on and on, until each child holding up his portion had presented the complete message: "Christmas Love."

The performance was going smoothly, until suddenly, it was noticed that a small, quiet girl in the front row with the letter M was holding her letter upside down. The audience of first through sixth-graders snickered at the little one's mistake. But she had no idea they were laughing at her, so she stood tall, proudly holding her "W."

Although many teachers tried to shush the children, the laughter continued until the last letter was raised, and we all saw it together. A hush came over the audience and eyes began to widen. A few tears glistened too. In that instant it was understood the reason why they were there, why we celebrated the holiday in the first place, why even in the chaos, there was a purpose for our festivities. 

For when the last letter was held high, the message read loud and clear: "C H R I S T - W A S - L O V E."

And, I believe, He still is.

Amazed in His presence. Humbled by His love.

Again, I hope you have a blessed Christmas season!

Some of our Star Eagle readers have commented that they like to read about the local happenings and family events such as family and school reunions, birthday and anniversary celebrations, and birth and wedding announcements.

In order to read about these important things, we need our faithful readers to pass along the information to us, so we can then pass along the news to you. If you have news to share, please contact me.

Also, if our NRHEG Star Eagle readers would like to share birthdays and anniversaries of your family and friends, or you know of some that should be deleted, or names have changed, please contact me via e-mail, This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.; by postal mail, P.O. Box 192, Geneva, MN 56035 or telephone, 507-256-4405.

Birthdays and anniversaries:

• Thursday, December 22nd: Destiny Rita Hill, David Arends, Pam Cook, Gary Dobberstein, Tracy Dulas, Julie Jensen Wichman, Ed Nelson, Nikki Toft Schumaker, Barbara Zamora, Bryce Hanson, Jamie Jensen.

• Friday, December 23rd: Vicki Richards, Jonika Otto Wing, Jess Dunlap, Paitin DuBois, Julie Cornelius, Keith Severson, Carol Schultz, Marian Camp, Sophia Swift, Burt & Carla Scripture.

• Saturday, December 24th: Christmas Eve! Barbara Mrotz, Brooke Reese, Craig Paulsen, Anna Louise Fuerniss, Susan Oolman.

• Sunday, December 25th: Merry Christmas!  Mitchel Gale Evans, Krista Lee Hardyman, Tom Reitveld, Makenzie Butler.

• Monday December 26th: Nadine Strenge, Gerald Edwards, Tom Hanson, Joshua Kasper, Jill Peterson Otterbein, Nicklas Hanson.

• Tuesday, December 27th: Sue Bailey Billbray, Colette Hemingway Moudy, Mikkel Iverson, Jamie Hagen, Scott Christensen, Carly Titus, Stacy Osmundson Titus, Ron Peterson, Shannon Peterson Pederson, Brad Bothum, Joe Anderson.

• Wednesday, December 28th: Hope Mikesell, Chad Toft, Rosella Wynia, Dorothy Brandt, Tyler Titus, Charlie Marlin, Merrill Bunn, Laura & John Ortiz, Neil & Ellen Pence, Erin & John Christensen.

May your find joy and pleasure all around you on your special day!