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Let us not be satisfied with just giving money. Money is not enough, money can be got, but they need your hearts to love them. So, spread your love everywhere you go; first of all in your own home. Give love to your children, to your wife or husband, to a next-door neighbor. Mother Teresa.

Is there any place where we can borrow a little boy three or four years old for the Christmas holidays? We have a nice home and would take wonderful care of him and bring him back safe and sound. We used to have a little boy, but he couldn't stay, and we miss him so when Christmas comes. —N. Muller

As I read the above appeal in our local newspaper, something happened to me. For the first time since my husband's death, I thought of grief as belonging to someone else. I read and reread the letter to the editor. Some months before, I had received word from Washington that my husband had been killed in the service overseas. Grief-stricken, I had taken my little son and had moved back to the tiny village of my birth. I'd gone to work to help support my son and time had helped to erase a few scars in my heart. But there were special times when the ache would return and loneliness would engulf me— birthdays, our wedding anniversary and holidays. This particular Christmas, the old pain was returning when my eyes caught the appeal in the newspaper column. We used to have a little boy, but he couldn't stay and we miss him so . . . I, too, knew what missing was, but I had my little boy. I knew how empty the sparkle of Christmas is unless you see it in the joyous eyes of a child. I answered the appeal. The writer of the letter was a widower who lived with his mother. He had lost his beloved wife and his little son the same year. That Christmas, my son and I shared a joyous day with the widower and his mother. Together, we found a happiness that we doubted would ever return. But the best part is that this joy was mine to keep throughout the years and for each of the Christmases since. You see, the man who wrote the letter, months later, became my husband. Mrs. N. H. Muller

"How Great Thou Art"
O Lord my God, When I in awesome wonder,
Consider all the worlds Thy Hands have made;
I see the stars, I hear the rolling thunder,
Thy power throughout the universe displayed.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When through the woods, and forest glades I wander,
And hear the birds sing sweetly in the trees.
When I look down, from lofty mountain grandeur
And see the brook, and feel the gentle breeze.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

And when I think of God, His Son not sparing;
Sent Him to die, I scarce can take it in;
That on the Cross, my burden gladly bearing,
He bled and died to take away my sin.

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

When Christ shall come, with shout of acclamation,
And take me home, what joy shall fill my heart.
Then I shall bow, in humble adoration,
And then proclaim: "My God, how great Thou art!"

Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art.
Then sings my soul, My Saviour God, to Thee,
How great Thou art, How great Thou art!

My personality is special and unique. I relish in the fact that there is no one else quite like me.

I accept that I have certain qualities that I am very proud of and others that I need to work on.

One of the qualities I appreciate in myself is the ability to be frank with others.

Being frank means that I am forthright in my self-expression.

I want others to know honestly how I feel so I can remain authentic and genuine in my relationships.

Sometimes, my frankness means others may not appreciate my message.

However, I realize that ultimately, a relationship is healthier and stronger when both of us are frank.

When I am candid, it frees me from the struggles of determining how best to share my point using only nuance and subtlety.

I am proud to be frank with others.

My honesty demonstrates that I am sincere, undisguised, and natural in my interactions.

Co-workers clearly appreciate my efforts to be forthright with them.

They seem to know they can count on me to be open and clear about my thoughts, ideas, and feelings.

It just makes life simpler to consistently be direct and honest with others.

Today, I plan to ponder the presence of frankness in my daily life.

I know I can put forth an even greater effort to be candid in my day-to-day exchanges with others.

So let's do some self-reflection today. Here's 3 questions that I have for you...

1. When I am frank with others, how does it affect them?

2. Are there times when I would like to be honest, but instead, I am not? When do those situations occur and with whom?

3. How can I increase my honesty with others?

Let me know.

Look forward to hearing from you.