Night claims the day on Christmas eve, the world settles in to itself. Streets stand forsaken and empty, except for the odd Christmas elf. Glistening darkness - dusted with light, falls silent and quietly waits for sounds of love from families gathered, for the magic that Christmas creates. During the hushed, quiet hours, when sleep finds the weary of soul, the wondrous promise of morning makes broken spirits whole. Dawn spreads its gold-crested fingers and a massive awakening begins. On rising, the world remembers the Man born to die for our sins. © 1998 Terri McPherson Buckley "You Are A Miracle" - The Book! A perfect Christmas Gift for a loved one or someone special who needs to be encouraged and lifted up. Visit the Flash presentation. Inspirational: Bookmarks Visit our Online Store The Christmas of Hope is another holiday heart-tugger by Donna VanLiere, the author of "The Christmas Shoes" and "The Christmas Blessing". "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht" 180 years ago the carol "Stille Nacht! Heilige Nacht" was heard for the first time in a village church in Oberndorf, Austria. The congregation at that Midnight Mass in St. Nicholas Church listened as the voices of the assistant pastor, Fr. Joseph Mohr, and the choir director, Franz Xaver Gruber, rang through the church to the accompaniment of Fr. Mohr's guitar. On each of the six verses, the choir repeated the last two lines in four-part harmony. On that Christmas Eve, a song was born that would wing its way into the hearts of people throughout the world. Now translated into hundreds of languages, it is sung by untold millions every December from small chapels in the Andes to great cathedrals in Antwerp and Rome. You can purchase Royalty Free Photos from iStock Photo for as little as $1.00 to compose your own online creations. © 1998 Terri McPherson Buckley Windsor, Ontario, Canada terri@wisehearts.com