Harold wandered past the punch table without a glance. He was focused on only one thing – to see his daughter before he died. The clock was two minutes away from striking midnight and everyone, except for Harold, was ready to usher in the New Year. He was determined to find her before it was too late.

Harold scrambled across the crowded ballroom dance floor. He glanced overhead and saw a net filled with balloons crossing the expanse of ceiling. The music stopped, as did Harold. He glanced back to see his son-in-law grabbing the MC microphone.

“All right everyone,” shouted Dave. “It’s almost time to welcome in the New Year, so find your loved ones now.”

Harold winced. He knew that the announcement would make it even more difficult for him to find Jennifer. Harold wanted to pierce Dave’s eyes with his burning anger, but he knew that it wasn’t his fault. The signs of the times were clear, and Harold knew that Dave would soon be overwhelmed by his generational responsibilities.

Harold turned and continued to press through the crowd. Everyone was bumping into each other as they hurried to find their loved ones. The clock started to chime. Bells outside of the building tolled. Harold was emphatic about finding Jennifer and pushed his way through the crowd unashamedly.

A baby cry was heard and Harold stopped dead in his tracks. He slowly turned left and the crowd dispersed revealing Jennifer on the floor with her newborn child. Harold moved quickly as the chimes continued to count in the New Year. He kneeled down next to Jennifer and placed his hand on his grandchild’s head.

“My grandson, be filled with hope and make a difference in your generation,” blessed Harold. “I’m afraid I became too complacent and I pray that will not be true for you.”

Jennifer looked up with a smile for Harold.

“Honey,” continued Harold. “I love you and I’m proud that you have brought baby New Year into the world. Be blessed my child and make sure he grows up with a desire to make a difference.”

“Thank you father,” whispered Jennifer as a tear welled in her eye.

The last stroke of midnight chimed and Harold closed his eyes. He took in a deep breath and held Jennifer’s hand for as long as he could. Everyone turned to bid Harold a farewell. Dave got back on the microphone.

“Ladies and gentlemen, please give a warm goodbye to Father Time.”

The orchestra played Auld Lang Syne and in front of everyone’s eyes, a breeze blew into the room and encircled Harold. Applause erupted and many shouted out words of praise and adoration as the wind turned Harold into a cloud of silvery dust and swept him into history.

When the wind stilled, Harold was nowhere in sight. Before anyone could have regrets for the passing year, the balloons were released.

“Ladies and gentlemen,” shouted Dave. “Please welcome in our newborn year, Henry.”

Everyone erupted in song with hearts filled with hope for the New Year. Each one knew that 2011 was going to be a far more exciting year than the past. The energy in the room was electrifying and baby New Year started to sway with the music. There was so much for him to accomplish that he started wiggling to the floor in hopes of soon taking his first steps in serving all with love.

Jennifer and Dave hugged with the foreknowledge that Henry was going to make a difference as a servant leader – The likes of which hadn’t been seen in decades. Still, Jennifer knew that it would all be in vein had Harold not passed on his blessings to Henry.

In a poignant moment, Jennifer looked across the floor and wondered who else was blessed. She hoped they could join Henry in making a difference in the New Year. With that very thought, the wind picked up and encircled the room. A silvery dust like substance settled over everyone like a freshly fallen snow that dissipated as quickly as it appeared.

“Thanks dad,” exclaimed Jennifer. “Thanks for blessing everyone who crossed your path in life.” Jennifer’s confidence rose, as she knew everyone present would do their best to bless others in the New Year. She turned to Dave with hope in her eyes waiting for a special kiss, but Dave gently turned her head to see little Henry walking toward the punch bowl.

“He’ll make a difference all right,” laughed Dave.

Dave and Jennifer joined their son, as they entered 2011 with hope and plans to bless everyone who crossed their paths.

Copyright © 2010 By CJ Powers

All Rights Reserved.

The little elf was very nervous. It was his first time on site and his confidence was low. While he had great success at the Santa Academy of Generosity, he felt a little unsure of himself. It might have had something to do with his nickname that the others gave him. Jasper was a unique and memorable name that could go down in history, but it seemed to stand out at the wrong times like Rudolph’s red nose.

However, Jasper was determined to make something of his name, especially since Santa called him by it as well. He worked extra hard at the academy and earned numerous accolades of hot coco and peppermint sticks. He was certainly on the right path in life and wanted to excel for the sake of every girl and boy expecting a visit from jolly old St. Nick.

It occurred to Jasper that he should practice his reduction techniques. After all, it was the hardest class to pass at the academy. Every elf struggled in his or her first few weeks trying to reduce down to the right size in order to hide from any child wandering from bed on Christmas Eve.

The goal was to remove just the right amount of space from between their molecules and shrink down so they could slip behind a ball ornament out of sight. Santa always reminded the students that hiding behind ball ornaments was ideal because if the child saw movement around the tree and investigated, they would see their own reflection change in the ball on approach. Children always assumed that the movement was just their own reflection, giving several seconds for the elf to escape.

Just before reducing, Jasper saw a letter to Santa on an end table. It was next to a few cookies and a glass of milk. He wasn’t familiar with the words on the letter, so he pulled out his E.L.F. pad (Electronic Language Facilitator) and scanned the message. The device quickly read back the following:

“Dear Santa, I’ve been a good boy, so can I please get my mommy back from where the angel’s took her?”

Jasper’s head dropped and a tear rolled down his cheek. It wouldn’t be long before the boy stopped believing in Santa Clause and Jasper could only hope that he would still hold onto faith, hope and love. He knew that all things were possible when people held those self-evident truths in their lives.

The door suddenly opened and without a single thought, Jasper condensed his molecular structure, shrank down to about two inches and slipped behind a ball ornament. He glanced around to find a reflective surface to watch what was happening.

Joe, the manager elf, walked in with a new recruit who was wide-eyed and eager to learn what his future academy experience would bring. Joe had a deep voice and was the last of the three most famous little elves known to Santa as Hardrock, Coco and Joe. They were with Santa in the early years when the North Pole was first set up as a base to make toys for girls and boys. Everyone knew them and was honored to be on their team.

Unfortunately, as happens with all good elves over time, they grow old and head off into the wilderness to live out their last days. Few ever saw the transition, but there were plenty of skeptics who couldn’t accept that every little elf, once past a certain age, would begin to grow to enormous proportions.

One explained that elves eventually lose control of their faculties and are no longer able to maintain their proper cute size, growing into large abominable snowmen. Few try to still fit in at the North Pole by placing stars at the top of the large Christmas trees lining the streets in town. Most simply head out into the great expanse looking for a place to rest their large frames. Hardrock and Coco both disappeared after the 60s.

Jasper listened as Joe explained a few of the key performance indicators that all elves must meet. He even heard Joe exclaim, “And, based on the exact alignment that generates the greatest positive emotional experience for all girls and boys, you can clearly see that this job was done by our best elf, Jasper.”

Joy welled up inside of Jasper after hearing such great words of affirmation. He wondered if the key to the season was more about being generous with words of encouragement and sharing love unsparingly throughout the community, than in sharing objects that fade with every new fad and seem to fall apart just before the next product release.

But there was no time for Jasper to think through those details, as he returned to work once Joe and the recruit left. Jasper was more determined than ever to make Christmas filled with so much joy that it would spill over into Valentine’s Day, giving Cupid a run for his money.

Positioning the last gift in just the right way, Jasper realized that the only merriment or happiness that could last more than a few days, was the joy that came from faith, hope and love being shared generously with all. With the boy now on his heart and mind, Jasper placed one special gift under the tree that would always remind the boy of the times he spent with his mom.

Jasper marked off his checklist and put on his soot protector. He positioned himself in the fireplace and clipped on his rip line. Within seconds he was lifted up into the moon lit sky, dangling from his safety line attached to Santa’s sleigh. He engaged his mini winch and soon found himself sitting on top of a bag of toys singing about Hardrock, Coco and Joe.

As the sleigh flew out of sight, words echoed throughout the town, “Merry Christmas to all, and to all, a good night!” But only a few elves sitting in the sleigh knew that is was Jasper shouting out of love to help Santa keep his voice healthy for the longest day of the year.

Jasper quickly became the most confident elf, thrilled with every opportunity to spread Christmas cheer. It was even said of Jasper that he had faith that everyone hearing his story would share an encouraging word with a neighbor, hope in people helping make a difference in their community and the lives around them, and love for all mankind that they would desire to understand the greatest gift of all – Christmas.

M E R R Y   C H R I S T M A S !

Copyright 2010 by CJ Powers  All Rights Reserved.

Little Kristie loved standing in front of her mom’s full length mirror. It was a time to marvel at who she was and dream about the young lady she would one day become. Glancing down, she smiled at her shiny new black shoes she received on Christmas Day. It warmed her heart knowing her mother had picked them out while on a trip to Paris. The shoes made her feel like a European fashion model.

Carefully brushing the long curls from her eyes, Kristie looked up at the barrette in her hair. It was the one she and her mom picked out during a trip to the mall for a special girls only weekend. She took in a deep breath and sighed. Kristie felt so special having a dad who encouraged girl time and supported it with special funds for souvenirs and presents.

Kristie’s pink dress was one present bought at a small boutique after a movie and ice cream cone. The store had caught her mother’s eye and they had to extend their weekend by a few extra hours, which dad welcomed since his football game had started. Timing was everything, Kristie thought, as she fluffed her skirt that framed her beautiful long legs.

Her soul welled up with joy at the idea of being a successful model traveling to Paris regularly. She knew her slender legs were perfectly shaped like her mother’s. But she needed time to prepare herself emotionally, as modeling was very hard work filled with exhausting hours. She paused as she glanced up and down once again in the mirror, soaking in every detail of who she was.

Kristie adored those few minutes in front of the mirror after every trip to the cemetery visiting her mother. It brought her hope and made her feel beautiful, just like her mom. Kristie’s face soon reflected a touch of elegance as she gently caressed her cheek and pondered how her mother loved deeply and playfully. It made her long to be a mother as well some day.

Unfortunately, the time had come for her to face reality. She glanced down at her thin waist where her dad’s strong hands held her up right in front of the mirror. Kristie knew he was tiring and didn’t want to over extend the blessing he gave her. With a gentle nod, her dad turned her around and placed her back in her wheel chair.

“Thank you daddy,” smiled Kristie.

“You’re welcome princess,” responded her dad.

Her father took hold of the wheel chair and they headed into the family room to play a game of checkers. Sunday afternoons were always filled with time for family, even before the car accident that took Kristie’s mom and left her paralyzed from the ribs down. It was also a time for Kristie to reflect on how wonderful her life was, especially with a dad who knew and understood her need to be the lady of the house.

In Kristie’s mind timing was everything and she was confident that one day she would meet her prince because her dad cared and helped her prepare emotionally every week for her future.

Copyright 2010 by CJ Powers  All Rights Reserved.