Discover Smith Mountain Lake
WINTER 2015/16
11
10
BY KATE HOFSTETTER
based on a true story
John hit the snooze button on his alarm clock and snuggled
down into the covers and against the warm body of his wife,
Jill. The wind was whistling outside; it was another bitter day.
Probably another ice storm, he thought, as he tried to push the
obligations of the day from his mind to enjoy these few stolen
moments in peace, warmth, and safety.
Normally, he would have teased his wife awake by rubbing a
soft corner of the blanket across her cheek or playfully kissing
the back of her neck. This morning, however, he tried not to
disturb her as he pieced together a dream he’d had during the
night. He couldn’t remember many details of the dream but he
knew he was a child in it and he was trying to run to Ellie, his
nanny, who had her arms out-stretched to receive him. Why
would he dream of Ellie? It puzzled him. He hadn’t seen her in
years, and rarely thought about her during the daily hustle and
bustle of life and rearing his own family of two girls and a boy.
Ellie had raised John, and his brother Phil, from the infant
years into high school. Then, she left to care for another
family. It had been difficult for the boys to accept this business
arrangement, as to them, Ellie was family, closer in many ways
than their parents. It must have been difficult for Ellie, too,
even though she had a daughter of her own.
“You Ellie’s white babies. She my brown baby,” she used to
PROVERBS 22 : 6
Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.
InThe Bleak
The Most
Precious
Gift
Midwinter
In the bleak midwinter, frosty winds did moan
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone.
Snow had fallen softly, snow on snow on snow.
In the bleak midwinter, oh so long ago.
Our God, heaven cannot hold him nor the earth sustain.
Heav’n and earth shall flee away when he comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
For the Lord almighty, Je-e-e-sus Christ.
Oh, what can I give Him? Woeful as I am.
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb.
If I were a wise man, I would do my part.
Yet, what can I give him? I will give my heart.
A beautiful old Christmas carol as sung by Dan Fogelberg in his
albumThe First Christmas Morning. The poem was written
by Christina Rossetti in 1872 and set to music by Gustav
Hoist in 1906. There is at least one additional verse to
the original poem
