Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Miss Christmas



In some of my previous posts, I explained that we didn’t have a lot growing up. We were a one income family with ten mouths to feed. We had a roof, we had clothes though probably not the trendiest, we had food to eat though probably not in great abundance, and we had a place to sleep. All in all, I was happy and I love my family.

Christmas and birthdays were happy. We had presents to open, though probably not many. We had the tree and tinsel, lights and ornaments. We’d all line up on the stairs in age order waiting to attack what was under the tree.

As I got older, my wants and needs changed and are still changing.

My daughters, Hannah and Emily, complain that I don’t give them many options. I mean, I’m good with a book or two, a CD or two, and a movie or two. Nothing much.

Honestly, I’d rather Kim and the girls get what they want. I’m good with that.

If I could bottle up happiness, health, and financial stability, that would be even better. Mostly for Kim and the girls. I want them happy and I want them healthy and I want them to be financially stable. I want Hannah and Em to have close, meaningful friendships and to be able to navigate this world and life in a positive, purposeful and meaningful way.

So, how do you wrap that in a box?

Can’t.

I came across a beautiful story about a parent’s gift to her five year old son, and this little guy had his wish fulfilled. Something all parents hope for, right?

Eric Schmitt-Matzen, with a classic long white beard and curled mustache, plays Saint Nick in Knoxville, Tennessee. He’s done it for years, but this year, a couple of months ago, it was special. Perhaps his best and most memorable performance. A nurse at a local hospital called him and said she had a very sick child who wanted to see Santa.

It’s worth the three or so minutes it will take you to watch, and you can find it here:

Here’s Mr. Schmitt-Matzen’s account:

The boy's mother gave him a gift to give the boy, "something he was always wanting," he said, toys from the children's animated series PAW Patrol.

"What's this I hear you're going to be missing Christmas this year?" Schmitt-Matzen said he asked the boy.

That's when the boy told him he heard he was going to die.

"Well, you're not going to miss Christmas, the elves already had your present, we knew you wanted this for a long time," he said he told the boy.

"Really?" the boy asked, according to Schmitt-Matzen.

He then gave the boy his gift "and that put a grin on his face," he said.

Schmitt-Matzen choked up as he told WBIR that he told the boy "When you get up those pearly gates, you just tell them you're Santa's number one elf."

"I am?" the boy asked, perking up, according to Schmitt-Matzen.

"You sure are, I'm sure they'll let you right in," he said.

The boy then gave him a big hug, he said, and "he just looked at me and said, Santa, can you help me?"

"And that's when he passed," Schmitt-Matzen said.

One present and a wish . . . to not Miss Christmas!

A little five year old boy about to die afraid he’d miss Christmas. A nurse determined to not let this happen. A mom with a present. And one good-hearted and kind man playing the part of Santa.

Puts some things in priority, doesn’t it? Kind of helps us make sense out of the sometimes crazy and chaotic world we live in. Kinda makes our own Christmas lists pale in comparison, right? Hopefully, something to think about . . .

Live Your Life, and Make A Difference!

To My Readers:
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If you like Thriller/Mystery fiction, check out what other readers have said about my novels.
Stolen Lives
“Joseph Lewis has created a cast of characters that you grow to care about. Their story is filled with twists and turns that keep you reading. When the book ends you will be left anticipating the next one! This was a story I could not put down!”  “I am really glad I happened to see this Trilogy while looking through my Kindle unlimited series. Great strong characters, especially George and Brett. Looking forward to reading more from this author. Started Taking Lives and immediately turned the pages to get to Stolen Lives.”
Two thirteen year old boys are abducted off a safe suburban street. Kelliher and his team of FBI agents have 24 hours to find them or they’ll end up like all the others- dead! They have no leads, no clues, and nothing to go on. And the possibility exists that one of his team members might be involved. http://bit.ly/Stolen-Lives-JLewis        

Shattered Lives
“I couldn’t put it down, a really good book!” “Great book! I can't wait for next one!” “This book is excellent. The whole series is definitely worth your time.” “Expertly written. I ended up buying all the books in the series and am waiting eagerly for the final installment Splintered Lives."
Six men escaped and are out for revenge. The boys, recently freed from captivity, are in danger and so are their families, but they don’t know it. The FBI has no clues, no leads, and nothing to go on and because of that, cannot protect them.  http://bit.ly/Shattered-Lives-J-Lewis        

Splintered Lives
“Engaging characters you care about. A story that is fast-paced and holds your attention to the point you cannot put it down. Great finish to a great series.”
A 14 year old boy has a price on his head, but he and his family don’t know it. Their family vacation turns into a trip to hell. Out gunned and outnumbered, can this boy protect his father and brothers? Without knowing who these men are? Or how many there are? Or when they might come for him? http://bit.ly/Splintered-Lives-J-Lewis    

Taking Lives
“Great book by Joseph Lewis. Many twists and turns. Fasted paced.”  “Couldn’t put the book down.”  “Great story can't wait to read the next one!” “Great book! I really enjoyed it. Good author!” “Each character is developed thoroughly, igniting the reader's interest and stirring emotions. The frustration of the detective flows to the reader. The young boys are endearing.”
FBI Agent Pete Kelliher and his partner search for the clues behind the bodies of six boys left in various and remote parts of the country. Even though they don’t know one another, the lives of FBI Kelliher, 11 year old Brett McGovern, and 11 year old George Tokay are separate pieces of a puzzle. The two boys become interwoven with the same thread that Pete Kelliher holds in his hand. The three of them are on a collision course and when that happens, their lives are in jeopardy as each search for a way out. http://bit.ly/Taking-Lives-JLewis

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