The Greatest Gift of All is Love

A good friend of mine, who is also our financial advisor, sent the following story to me today. I thought it was appropriate to share it at this time with Christmas right around the corner.

A brother and sister had made their usual hurried, obligatory pre- Christmas visit to the little farm where dwelt their elderly parents with their small herd of horses. The farm was where they had grown up and had been named Lone Pine Farm because of the huge pine, which topped the hill behind the farm. Through the years the tree had become a talisman to the old man and his wife, and a landmark in the countryside... The young siblings had fond memories of their childhood here, but the city hustle and bustle added more excitement to their lives, and called them away to a different life..

The old folks no longer showed their horses, for the years had taken their toll, and getting out to the barn on those frosty mornings was getting harder, but it gave them a reason to get up in the mornings and a reason to live. They sold a few foals each year, and the horses were their reason for joy in the morning and contentment at day's end.

Angry, as they prepared to leave, the young couple confronted the old folks. Why do you not at least dispose of The Old One." She is no longer of use to you. It's been years since you've had foals from her. You should cut corners and save so you can have more for yourselves. How can this old worn out horse bring you anything but expense and work? Why do you keep her anyway?"

The old man looked down at his worn boots, holes in the toes, scuffed at the barn floor and replied, "Yes, I could use a pair of new boots. His arm slid defensively about the Old One's neck as he drew her near with gentle caressing he rubbed her softly behind her ears. He replied softly,
"We keep her because of love. Nothing else, just love."

Baffled and irritated, the young folks wished the old man and his wife a Merry Christmas and headed back toward the city as darkness stole through the valley. The old couple shook their heads in sorrow that it had not been a happy visit. A tear fell upon their cheeks.. How is it that these young folks do not understand the peace of the love that filled their hearts?

So it was, that because of the unhappy leave-taking, no one noticed the insulation smoldering on the frayed wires in the old barn. None saw the first spark fall. None but the "Old One".

In a matter of minutes, the whole barn was ablaze and the hungry flames were licking at the loft full of hay. With a cry of horror and despair, the old man shouted to his wife to call for help as he raced to the barn to save their beloved horses. But the flames were roaring now, and the blazing heat drove him back. He sank sobbing to the ground, helpless before the fire's fury. His wife back from calling for help cradled him in her arms, clinging to each other, they wept at their loss.

By the time the fire department arrived, only smoking, glowing ruins were left, and the old man and his wife, exhausted from their grief, huddled together before the barn. They were speechless as they rose from the cold snow covered ground. They nodded thanks to the firemen as there was nothing anyone could do now. The old man turned to his wife, resting her white head upon his shoulders as his shaking old hands clumsily dried her tears with a frayed red bandana. Brokenly he whispered, "We have lost much, but God has spared our home on this eve of Christmas. Let us gather strength and climb the hill to the old pine where we have sought comfort in times of despair. We will look down upon our home and give thanks to God that it has been spared and pray for our beloved most precious gifts that have been taken from us.

And so, he took her by the hand and slowly helped her up the snowy hill as he brushed aside his own tears with the back of his old and withered hand. The journey up the hill was hard for their old bodies in the steep snow. As they stepped over the little knoll at the crest of the hill, they paused to rest, looking up to the top of the hill the old couple gasped and fell to their knees in amazement at the incredible beauty before them.

Seemingly, every glorious, brilliant star in the heavens was caught up in the glittering, snow-frosted branches of their beloved pine, and it was aglow with heavenly candles. And poised on its top most bough, a crystal crescent moon glistened like spun glass. Never had a mere mortal created a Christmas tree such as this. They were breathless as the old man held his wife tighter in his arms.

Suddenly, the old man gave a cry of wonder and incredible joy. Amazed and mystified, he took his wife by the hand and pulled her forward. There, beneath the tree, in resplendent glory, a mist hovering over and glowing in the darkness was their Christmas gift. Shadows glistening in the night light. Bedded down about the "Old One" close to the trunk of the tree, was the entire herd, safe.

At the first hint of smoke, she had pushed the door ajar with her muzzle and had led the horses through it. Slowly and with great dignity, never looking back, she had led them up the hill, stepping cautiously through the snow. The foals were frightened and dashed about. The skittish yearlings looked back at the crackling, hungry flames, and tucked their tails under them as they licked their lips and hopped like rabbits. The mares that were in foal with a new years crop of babies, pressed uneasily against the "Old One" as she moved calmly up the hill and to safety beneath the pine. And now, she lay among them and gazed at the faces of the old man and his wife. Those she loved she had not disappointed. Her body was brittle with years, tired from the climb, but the golden eyes were filled with devotion as she offered her gift---

Because of love.
Only Because of love...

Tears flowed as the old couple shouted their praise and joy... and again the peace of love filled their hearts.


Everyone is scurrying around getting ready for the holiday celebrations. There are presents to buy and wrap, food to cook, etc. May we all remember this holiday season that the best gift we can give cannot be bought with money...it is indeed the gift of love.

"For God so loved the world that he gave his only begotten Son, that whosoever believeth in Him shall not perish but have everlasting life." (John 3:16)

Here is the response I sent back to my friend:

Oh, how this world has become like the young couple.

But I have faith. I see a new light. There are movements going on around the world that want to see humanity restored.

Check these out:

http://vimeo.com/32929776

http://www.thrivethemovie.org/

http://www.the99declaration.org/

For your reading entertainment you may want to check out my blog:

Haysforpresident2012.blogspot.com

I am an Occupier in Los Angeles. I am making appearances before City Council. I plan to show movies and educate on Tuesday nights on the steps of City Hall on Spring Street (weather permitting)…I will post on my blog as the top header what my intentions are.

Our country is in far worse condition than most Americans realize. It is indeed going to take some miracles from God to get us out of this mess. I am an optimist. I believe in God. I believe in miracles. I think the miracles are already starting to happen.

Pray for peace. Pray for love. Pray for humanity to be restored.

Love,
Nadine

I hope you can feel my heart.

The Police Are Ticketing Me Because I Support The Occupy Movement

Below is the letter that I sent into the traffic court judge after receiving 2 tickets within a period of 4 days. I feel there is a harrassment order out, not only for the occupiers, but also for anyone that supports the movement.


111206 Letter sent to judge regarding 2 tickets I received -


"They" think that threatening us will just make us disappear. Well, we have news for them. In actuality, the more they fight against us, the stronger we become. That's my prediction, anyway. I will fight for what is right until the day I die (or "they" decide to kill me).

Why have I become so politically active in the past 2 years? Take a look at the video below and you might begin to understand.

How Would You Like To Be Thrown Into Jail Without A Trial?

I almost fell off my chair when I heard Senator Rand Paul in the following interview:



So they have actually had a bill proposed that would allow government officials to imprison U.S. citizens indefinitely, without a trial, based on someone's personal opinion? The wording that was used in this report by Ms. Crowly gave me an eerie feeling. She used phrases like "hostilities against the United States" and "acts of war against the United States".

It would seem to me that all of the participants in the Occupy movement, including me, could be thrown into that category. The one thing that is not clarified, however, is the fact that we have the lawful right to war against the U.S. government if they are doing wrongful acts. It is our duty as American citizens to fight for what is right.

I want to know the names of every Congressional member that voted in favor of this bill. Their constituents need to be alerted about how dangerous this bill would have been had it passed. It is my prayer that people like this will not be re-elected.

This should have been BIG on the news. The only way I heard about it was through a newsletter I receive on the internet. As we all know, the news is not the truth...it is what "they" want us to hear. That will change if I have anything to say about it.

FOX News has got to stop blaming the Muslims for what happened on 9-11. Most Americans are waking up to what really happened and it makes me sick to think that our own government officials participated in it. The truth will come forth in time and God already knows who did what. The true terrorists will indeed get the worse punishment possible...that of eternal damnation.