[Forum Event] Grandpa's stories

Name: Charmwitch
Server: Siel
Title: The Meaning of Christmas


Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room, and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out from behind the Christmas tree. He placed his finger over his mouth so I would not cry out. "What are you doing?" I started to ask him.



The words choked in my throat, as I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement, TEACH THE CHILDREN! I was puzzled: What did he mean? He anticipated my question, and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree.



As I stood there bewildered, Santa said, Teach the Children! Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that a now-a-day Christmas has forgotten!



Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it on the mantle. Teach the Children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind. All the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven.



He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. Teach the Children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of that promise.



He then reached into the bag and pulled out a CANDLE. Teach the Children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness.
Once again he reached into his bag and then removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. Teach the Children that the wreath symbolizes the eternal nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection.



He then pulled out from his bag an ornament of HIMSELF. Teach the Children that Santa Claus symbolizes the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December.



He reached in again and pulled out a HOLLY LEAF. Teach the Children the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent blood shed by Him.
Next he pulled out a GIFT from the bag and said, "Teach the Children that God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son. Thanks be to God for His unspeakable gift. Teach the Children that the wise men bowed before the holy babe and presented Him with gold, frankincense, and myrrh. We should give gifts in the same spirit as the wise men."



Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. Teach the Children that the candy cane represents the shepherd's crook. The crook on the shepherd's staff helps bring back strayed sheep from the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper.
He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. Teach the Children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang 'Glory to God in the highest, on earth, peace and good will.'
Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL. Teach the Children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of a bell, it should bring people to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.



Santa looked at the tree and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the Children the true meaning of Christmas, and not to put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One who is, and I bow down and worship Him, our Lord, our God."

Screenshot: http://s909.photobucket.com/user/charmwitch/media/charmwitch_zps647a4c89.png.html

 

Charater Name : Ayisxhe
Server : Siel
Story: The Christmas Miracle

Steve had little patience with people, and he didn't have much more with puppies, either. He preferred, on the whole, the adult dogs. Puppies, however, came in after the holidays, because people found out:
*they were allergic
*the puppy was too hard to train
*the puppy was too much work
*the landlord didn't allow puppies
*the landlord didn't allow puppies that were going to be BIG
*the puppy barked too much
*the puppy wasn't the kind of dog they wanted.
This list could have been elaborated on, over and over. But I watched Steve's face as he faced the man in the lobby, the man who was brining in the puppy for adoption 8 days before Christmas.
Steve was our 'dog' person. He was the one who in general, was the 'expert', and I liked him alot. Tall, laconic, dry witted, and incredibly intelligent, he had gotten to the point with many people where they tried what little was left of his patience. As I leaned against the counter, I had a feeling this would be one of them.
"You see;" the man holding the puppy was saying "We just found out we can't have dogs where we are. We got the puppy from my friend, Joe, who works with me downtown. He got the puppy from this guy he knew who got it for his kid, but the kid was allergic, and he got the puppy from someone who had gotten the puppy from this lady who got it for a present from her kids, but she was too old to take care of it and figured it would be a good present for someone with kids. We figured that, too. She's a nice little puppy."
The nice little puppy was beautiful, slightly longish white fur. She was obviously a mix.
She was only about 9 weeks old. She was cowering in fear, with huge dark eyes, and I could see the confusion there. She looked in good shape, but emotionally, I wondered where she was. She was very young, and she had already been through more homes than many adult dogs.
Steve looked at me, and I shrugged. "I'll have the vet examine her, and if she checks out, we'll take her." he told the man, taking the puppy.
"What an idiot." Was Steve's remark as we leaned across the exam table in the clinic. The puppy sat there, quivering, obviously terrified of yet one more strange thing in her life. Dr. Morris gently gave her a once over, and gave her the thumbs up for adoption, but suggested she remain in the clinic a couple days, as she was a little underweight, probably from stress.
We told the man we'd be taking the puppy, and he looked relieved. He handed us a small leash and a box of biscuits. "Her name is Candy." he said, as we parted company.
Steve came and sat beside me at the desk. He looked gloomy and morose. "I wish people wouldn't think that getting a dog for Christmas is a great idea...it just makes the pet stores profit and the puppies wind up...if they are lucky...like that one there."
I agreed. Every year we saw alot of the same thing. Candy's difference was that she came before Christmas, and that was at least a small change.
The next day Dr. Morris called me. "This puppy doesn't know how to eat much on her own, Fyre. I think that must have been taken away from her mother too young. Someone's going to have to watch her eat, and help urge her along. I don't think she should go to just anyone...make sure the home she gets they have alot of time to spend with her."
People were coming in like crazy for puppies and kittens, but it was not our policy to adopt right before the holidays, which were too stressful for most puppies and kittens. This seemed to agree with Candy, who got to know our staff, and in two days time was romping in the small back room with 2 of our cats who liked dogs.
That afternoon, Steve was asked to pick out a dog or a puppy to take with him to do an educational presentation at the Greenpoint Library. The lecture, to kids and their parents, was why you shouldn't get a pet for the holidays. Steve wanted to take an older dog, but being he needed a dog he could fit in the small car that belonged to our handyman, he reluctantly decided on Candy.
Steve got there, got set up, and spoke with the library staff, who were animal lovers, about the shelter, all of who admired the puppy. Candy, in her days with us, wasn't as shy as she had been, but Steve took great pains to make sure the puppy was comfortable. He put her into a large carrier to nap til they were ready for her, and he set up for the 'talk'.
The audience that filtered in were made up of adults and kids of all ages. They took seats in the kids library, and Steve watched them with irony, wondering how many would really listen to him.
He was introduced by the Head Librarian and had just begun to talk when he noticned a slight disturbance in the back of the room. A man was entering, pushing a wheelchair with a child in it. Steve noticed the little girl, who looked to be about 10, had a scarf over her head and looked very pale. They took their place near the side and Steve noticed they were very attentive.
A few mintues into the presentation, Steve lifted out Candy from her box. There was a chorus of 'ooohs' and 'aaahhhs' but from the side there came a small scream. Steve turned and saw the man, his face white, clutching the girl's hand. The girl looked as if she was seeing a ghost.
"It's her, dad!!!! It's her." the childs voice was filled with anguish, and Steve and everyone turned to look at the man. He was white faced and obviously shaken. The little girl was crying, reaching out her arms. "Oh, please, please let me hold her. She's mine, she's mine!"
There was dead silence in the room. Steve looked at the man and held up his hand to the group. He went over to the man, and settled the puppy in the little girls lap. She buried her face in the puppie's fur and Candy turned and began to lick her ear. Her scarf slipped and Steve could see she had no hair. The man reached out and squeezed her hand, then looked up at Steve. "We can discuss this when I'm done." Steve said, not knowing what else to do. Despite his jaded nature, he felt a lump in his throat, and the rest of the lecture was delivered with a paced warmth and more acceptance than probably anything else he'd done. At the end, he let the children come up and gently pet the puppy where it sat in the little girl's lap. The little girl showed them how to pet the little animal, gently, and held some of the smaller children's hands. When the lecture was over, after Steve had fielded several questions about the shelter, he went back to the man and his daughter. The little girl smiled up at him through tear streaked lashes. "Thank you for bringing her to me! I knew I'd see her again! I just knew it!"
Steve turned to the man, who gave him a desperate look. He led him to the side of the library. "Please let us adopt this puppy. This must be a miracle."
He paused and looked at Steve. "You see, a few weeks ago we answered an ad about someone who had puppies for adoption. Ann....my daughter....she has cancer. For Christmas she asked for a puppy, and we thought it would be a good idea. My wife and I had wanted a dog too, and Ann, well, it seemed to be an incentive for her to not give up, too, you know? We picked out this puppy, and the woman said she'd hold it for us til the puppy was a little older. It was still nursing and being taken care of by it's mother. We gave the woman our number, and told her to call us. We figured she would. But two weeks later when I called, she told me she had sold the whole litter. We tried to find out more, but she wouldn't tell me anything.
It devestated my daughter. She's been sort of having a hard time with things. I didn't think she'd ever get over it. She prayed for that puppy....."
He began to cry. Steve did too. He had a lump in his throat. He shook his head. "Come back to the shelter with me. You'll have to do the paperwork to make it offical."
That afternoon, Candy, renamed Holly, went home in the arms of a little girl who thanked us for being angels. Her parents, who had both come in, hugged us in tears.
A year later Steve came upstairs and handed me an envelope. There was a Christmas card inside with a pretty young blond girl sitting on a sofa, her arms around a silky snow coated dog, with a red collar around it's neck.
"Merry Christmas from Anne and her sister, Holly." the card read. "I feel better now, Steve, because of you. I will always take good care of Holly. Love, Ann."
It was the only time I'd ever seen Steve cry.
Merry Christmas to all ! ! !

Screen Shot: Ayixshe_zps24295520.png Photo by redbelt7 | Photobucket

 

Character Name: Allyforbubu ( I want the prize to be sent to my Boyfriend please he helped ^^ Name: Hell )
Server: Lumiel
Title: The Missing Present?

Story:It was the night before Christmas, everyone was happy, fireworks were shining and everyone was waiting for Santa to come...





Everyone got their presents and I was looking for mine but could not find it anywhere not even one of then big or small had my name on it... I looked up and down left and right but could not find it... Could it be that I was simply a naughty girl this year? I just could not believe it...





Then I started asking everyone if they have seen my present and if anyone else did not recieve a gift.
I got sad but I still was cheerful because it was the Holidays so I went singing Christmas Carols to all my neighbours.
They were all happy to see me sing and bring the spirit of Christmas to their home.
After I finished singing and eating some cookies at my dear friend Shemblabla's house I continued my journey on to the next house...
The next house was strange because no lights were on and nobody was home. I looked around and could not see a single sign of movement.
Then it struck me...




On the Resident information pannel was written MY NAME! I could not believe it !
That's why I could not find a present with my name on it! It was here all along! My new and beautiful house, I was soo happy!
The only thing needed was redecorating ^^
I'd rather get started than writing Christmas Stories :biggrin:

!! HAPPY HOLIDAYS !!

 

Character Name: Lunar
Server: Lumiel
Your Entry : Lunar's Christmas Story

I like Christmas because I get a long winter break. It is important to me because it give me a break from school. Ultimately, it gives me time to play Aion.


http://i44.tinypic.com/69i3hu.jpg
http://tinypic.com/r/69i3hu/5


http://i39.tinypic.com/3y53d.jpg
http://tinypic.com/r/3y53d/5

 

Event is now closed! The staff voting for the best 3 ones will start soon,
so please be patient till the winners get announced!

Happy holidays to everyone, stay safe!
​

♥​

 

As the new year hit for me and for all the others,
I wanted to make you a nice present for the year 2014
and gonna announce the winners of this contest. :3
The staff read all your stories and voted for the best 3 Christmas stories.

1st Place: Ratsky
2nd Place: Endeavor
3rd Place: Ally4bubu

Congratulations to the winners and thank you to everyone else for taking part in this event!
As soon as everyone is sober, I will start pming every participants including the winners about their prizes,
so please take a look on the prizes and be prepared,
so it's gonna be easier and faster for both sides, staff and user.

Thank you to the whole staff for voting, HGM Deathangel for the prizes and
last but not least thank you to the whole community for participating!

Happy New Year to everyone out there,
celebrate with your beloved and enjoy! ♥​

 

All the winners and participants should have gotten the reward for the event as they got mailed. Please check your Mailbox and let me know if anything is wrong! Thank you in advance! :3