Stepping stones to Bethlehem - Jack McArdle

In our everyday world, each of us takes responsibility for our own preparations for Christmas. After all, in that everyday world, we have to do our own shoppping, buy our own gifts, put up the decorations, and set up the Christmas tree. It is precisely because of the pressures of all these chores that this book is prepared and presented. Jack McArdle presents here a short reflection for each day. While not claiming anything profound or original in these reflections, Jack hopes that a sentence here or there might stir up further reflection when the booklet has been laid aside. The second part contains a suggestion or two about someting that might get the reader's particular atteniton on that day. Jack avoided being too specific in these, trusting the goodwill of the reader to take the suggestions offered., and to mediate them down into the specific. To do so is the test of our sincerity. We all can be very good at generalities and, if sincerity is absent, we tend to remain at that stage. The final part of each day's offering is a short prayer.;Once again, this is just intended as a kick-off point, from which further prayers and expressions of the same disposition might possibly come into the heart at a later time in the day. The words are not important; rather it is the intent contained in the words. Some of our 'better' prayers quite often don't require words.