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BARROW NEWS-JOURNAL
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 21, 2016
Merry Christmas, Charlie Brown!
Letter to the Editor
School system embodies
spirit of Santa Claus
Probably the best-loved
Christmas special of all
time: “A Charlie Brown
Christmas.”
It's still my personal
favorite. The first airing
of the program was Dec.
9, 1965.
I was just a
young thing
back in those
days, having
turned 7 a cou
ple months ear
lier.
I do not spe
cifically remem
ber watching
that particular
show, but I’m
pretty sure I’ve
seen it at least
100 times since then.
For me. the official
Christmas season doesn’t
start until I’ve seen the
show.
It’s rather a hodge
podge story, with Snoopy
flying a war plane, Lucy
getting kissed on the
mouth by Snoopy and
Sally’s long list for Santa.
My two favorite parts
are the poor little sad
Christmas tree, and Linus’
soliloquy about the true
meaning of Christmas.
As a young kid, I
learned the verses of the
Christmas Story by lis
tening over and over to
the beautiful words spo
ken by a cartoon char
acter.
The voice of the orig
inal Linus is absolutely
precious, and I’ve always
loved his recitation of the
verses.
I’ve been rather sur
prised over the years that
someone hasn’t come
along and tried to “ban”
the show because they
find the message offen
sive with its religious
message.
That’s probably not
too long in the future,
since the complaints of
the few seem to outweigh
the desires and beliefs of
the many.
Or perhaps they’ll come
up with a new
version called
“Happy Holi
days, Charlie
Brown!” where
Santa Claus is
presented to
be what it’s all
about.
Lots of peo
ple think that
already.
A tad of
research shows
that Linus’
scene was almost cut
from the show.
The execs were afraid
it would not be accepted
by people who were not
religious.
The producer argued
that it was an “entertain
ment show,” and having
a religious undertone
would limit advertisers
and the viewing audience.
However, Mr. Schultz
insisted that the scene not
be cut. Way to go, Mr.
Schultz!
The Charlie Brown
Christmas show could
very easily have been
written without the real
Christmas Story.
We’d still have watched
it, because we love Char
lie Brown and the Pea
nuts Gang. But the chaos
of commercialism, the
uncooperative actors in
the Christmas play, the
decoration contest — all
that is a good representa
tion of how it goes for us
during the holidays.
Craziness, chaos, the
rush to get things done,
the emotional and finan
cial strain ... let’s face it.
Christmas can be a very
stressful time.
Sometimes we need to
slow it up, step back from
the chaos, and focus.
Clear the auditorium of
all the noise and confu
sion.
Turn down the house
lights, and focus on a
sweet little boy’s voice,
and hear these words:
“And there were in
the same country shep
herds abiding in the field,
keeping watch over their
flocks by night.
“And lo, the angel
of the Lord came upon
them, and the glory of the
Lord shone round about
them. And they were sore
afraid.
“And the angel said
unto them,‘Fear not! For
behold, I bring you good
tidings of great joy, which
shall be to all people. For
unto you is born this day
in the city of David a Sav
ior, which is Christ the
Lord. And this shall be
a sign unto you. Ye shall
find the babe wrapped in
swaddling clothes, lying
in a manger.’
“And suddenly there
was with the angel a mul
titude of the heavenly
host praising God, and
saying ‘Glory to God in
the highest, and on earth,
peace, good will to men.’
“That’s what Christ
mas is all about. Charlie
Brown!”
Wishing you and yours
a blessed holiday season,
and a very merry Christ
mas!
Cathy Watkins Ben
nett is a Barrow County
native and a graduate
of Winder-Barrow High
School. Send comments
about this column to
bencath@aol.com.
Dear Editor:
Yes, Barrow County, there
is a Santa Claus.
It is easy to focus on the
struggles faced by a commu
nity, but during this time of
year, those struggles are alle
viated by the giving of oth
ers. In the heart of the person
standing next to you at the
grocery store, in the actions of
the person pumping gas at the
next tank, in the anonymous
deliveries of toys and food for
children, we are a communi
ty blessed with intentions of
goodness.
The beauty of community
illustrates itself in a multitude
of ways during this time of
year, but our school system
ties everyone together to give
back in a way that is not quan
tifiable.
Every school in Barrow
County believes in teaching
the value of giving back to
others as a critical part of
educating each child. From
honoring our veterans to pro
viding Thanksgiving meals
for hundreds of families, and
a community meal, Novem
ber begins the multitude of
projects designed to recognize
and provide. Christmas drives
and donations are beyond
tracking. Our schools have
provided Christmas presents
for more than 100 families
and food for more than 50
families.
The food, in many cases,
is enough to cover the two
weeks we are off from school.
The gifts for those in financial
need and also for those who
are sick. The Angel tree proj
ect supported over 100 chil
dren, and one school’s gift of
literacy to every student pro
vided homes with books they
might not otherwise have. Stu
dents in our fine arts programs
have caroled around town,
come together as one to host a
concert benefiting our Food 2
Kids program, and showcased
their talents this season, pro
viding joy and peace to those
attending events.
In some cases, schools
have provided individual
families attention including
heat, money for gas, and gift
cards for needs during times
of transition. On Christmas
Eve, famihes can come to the
“Share the Blessing” event,
a collaborative effort shared
by a local church and school.
The examples of providing,
organized by our schools, is
impossible to entirely recount.
However, the most important
aspect of each project is that
none of them would be pos
sible without the support of
this community. Our schools
get to have our most signifi
cant resource every day: our
children. The magic created
when a group of children
come together to provide for
those sitting next to them is
not something that happens
without belief in one another
and faith that we put the needs
of others before our own.
Every child, teacher, parent,
and community member is
responsible for the amount of
blessings this community is
able to provide. This shared
effort is unique to this place.
Just because we can’t see
Santa Claus doesn’t mean
he doesn’t exist. He is in the
action of every parent, child
and teacher who display love
and care for each other and for
those in need.
The next time you make
eye contact with a stranger,
acknowledge that person
for their generosity. Barrow
County is a special place to
five and that is because each
person who fives here believes
in this place. Do the next best
thing for the people around
you and the prosperity of our
community is nothing but
bountiful.
Sincerely,
Barrow County School
System administrators
Random Rants in Rhyme
Christmas acrostics
Christ came as a baby to this earth
He abandoned Heaven’s glory for lowly birth.
Royalty abject in a lowly manger.
Immanuel in a stable? What could be stranger?
Shepherds were the first to be told of the Savior.
The wise men from the East brought gifts to gain His favor.
Mary and Joseph stood and watched in wonder -
An Angel’s promise had surely come to pass.
Salvation from God had come to earth, at last.
cathy
watkins
bennett
NGMC Braselton recognized for
stained glass artwork in chapel
The stained glass win
dows in the Henry Edward
Braselton Chapel at North
east Georgia Medical Cen-
named the windows as one
of the top 100 projects from
around the world for the
2016 CODA Awards.
gift to the Medical Cen
ter Foundation by the late
Braslteton’s family.
C stands for Christ, the very Son of God.
He humbly walked with us on this Earth’s sod.
Redemption of mankind was His only yen.
Innocent was He of the slightest sin.
Salvation through His blood was what Christ brought.
Truth and righteous living were the things Christ sought
Mercy for the sinner was what Christ taught.
Assurance of acceptance was central in Christ’s teaching.
Simple faith in Him is what He is seeking.
dr.
cb
skelton
ter Braselton have been
nationally recognized.
The Collaboration of
Design and Art (CODA)
The windows were the
final element to complete
the chapel, which was made
possible through a signature
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