A Gift on the Feast of St. Nicholas -- The Scribe: The Legend of Josiam

Editor's Note: I love my readers! Many of their comments are spot on and bring up aspects of a subject that I haven't even thought of. How much they enrich the experience of blogging. I'm so thankful for them. One sent me a short story he was assigned once in a class (in 1991). Students were told to write an original piece about Christmas. I was so impressed with what he sent, I asked to reprint it. I know you will be as taken with the elderly scribe, Josiam, as I was. He makes me think of Simeon in his excitement over the coming of the Messiah. Because of its length, I'm publishing this in two parts. Part 1 is your St. Nicholas Day gift. It may be late in the evening, but it's still that dear saint's feast day. May you enjoy this little gift as much as I did.

THE SCRIBE

THE LEGEND OF JOSIAM

by Thomas J. Walsh

Chapter I

“Josiam, you had best come quickly!” Enos called to the elderly scribe, who was sitting hunched over with his nose nearly touching the tiny wooden desk. “King Herod demands that we attend to him in his court at once.”

A Bit of Christmas Trivia for Christmas Eve

One of my favorite Christmas specials is A Charlie Brown Christmas. It was the first of the peanuts animations and Charles Schulz was instrumental in its production. Here are several trivia questions to test your Charlie Brown knowledge:

1) What company was instrumental in advertising the special and even had a sign with its name on it in the original version?

2) What did Charles Schulz refuse to allow in the cartoon even though it was considered mandatory in comedy shows of the day?

3) Where did Schulz get the voices for most of his characters?

4)  What mistake did the animators make that is readily seen?

5) Why did Snoopy get most of the action scenes?

6) What "controversial" element of the program made the producers think the show would only be shown once instead of becoming the annual hit it is?

7) And last -- What Christmas special always puts poor Charlie Brown in second place?

Check out the anwers at  10 Things You Probably Didn’t Know About ‘A Charlie Brown Christmas’

A Christmas Tale of a Little Wise Man

I have a friend who has a grandson, Brendan (12), who's been battling leukemia for several years. He also has Downs Syndrome. His mom and grandad both have email lists of prayer warriors and I am fortunate to be on them. So when Brendan has a crisis I get a prayer alert and updates about what they are going through. I've been amazed and edified at the courage of this young man and his family. But I've also been blown away by Brendan's incredible wisdom. I wish I were as spiritually smart as this little victim soul.

My friend sent an email last year sharing a comment Brendan made about why he's going through this on-going battle with cancer. He told his mother that he's helping Jesus with his suffering so that more people will get into heaven.

Recently, Brendan's family had another scare. Brendan is undergoing chemo, but he had an unusual episode where he went catatonic. His eyes rolled up in his head and he just went unconscious which scared his poor mom out of her wits. After going to the emergency room and trying to figure out what was happening, they ended up talking to the psychiatrist who has worked with Brendan before to help him and his family cope.

Here's what my friend, a long-time pro-life activist, sent out to the list:

On Thursday, my grandson, Brendan, was at a clinic in Fairfax for chemo treatment through his central line, implanted months ago to use for administering his chemo. The line began to leak. We had hoped it had been repaired earlier in the week. The old central line was removed surgically, Friday at 12:30 , and a new one put in. This was done with great risks, but the surgery turned out to be successful.

After the surgery, a hospital psychiatrist visited Brendan about his fainting/catatonic fits he goes into when he’s stressed out.

A few minutes after the pleasantries, the doctor asked Brendan why he thought he was having these episodes. Brendan paused, turned and looked the doctor straight in the eyes and said: “Jesus blinds me with his light.” The doctor asked him if he thought this was a good or bad thing. Brendan said it is good because, “Jesus takes over fighting the cancer for me so I can take a rest. Then I wake up and I’m ready to fight cancer more.” This is an exact quote.

The doctor’s jaw dropped. He looked at Brendan’s parents who were speechless but indicated they had never, ever suggested this to him. The doctor said: "In all my 20 years as a doctor treating kids with psychological issues, I’ve never heard such a beautiful response from a kid…and to hear it at Christmas time. Wow!”

The doctor asked Brendan’s parents if they were ok with this and if so, to tell Brendan it was ok with them and they won’t worry about him when it happens again -which they did. The doctor told Brendan he’s great and that he was going to tell the hospital chaplain about “this wonderful patient."

All this, I am convinced, is attributable to your spiritual help. A million thanks to you for this help.

During this Christmas season will you take Brendan and his family to the Christmas crib and pray for the complete success of his chemo treatments? I have no doubt that you will be in this little saint's prayers as well because he has a spirit of gratitude for all the goodness of the people around him.

Christmas is about both giving and receiving. When the wise men travelled to Bethlehem they brought gifts for the Christ child, but what He gave them was worth far more. Your prayers for Brendan and his family will bless you beyond measure.