Bonus Room

November/December 2008 Issue | Posted by Lynn Wehner in Bonus Room

“I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord” (Luke 2:10-11).

Joy is one of the 12 fruits of the Spirit — “perfections that the Holy Spirit forms in us as the first fruits of eternal glory” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, No. 1832).

At this time of year and all year long, the joy of Christ’s birth can inspire us to be the people God created us to be. How powerful for us to remember that, now and forever, “The joy of the Lord is your strength” (Nehemiah 8:10).

Faith & Family Favorites

Some of our favorite ways to share those “tidings of

comfort and joy”...

It’s a Wonderful Life. “Just the greatest, most joyful movie Hollywood has ever made about Christmas. Filmmakers are still trying to duplicate this message — and failing because they take the Judeo-Christian element out of it.”

— Tom Wehner

“There’s always the ever-popular camp song …‘I’ve got that joy, joy, joy, joy down in my heart (Where?) … down in my heart to stay! And I’m so happy, so very happy, I’ve got the love of Jesus in my heart.’ Of course it’s the later verse that gets all the kids going: ‘And if the devil doesn’t like it he can sit on a tack (Ouch!) …’ I like to sing this when there seems no other hope to insert a joyful mood in the family — or myself!” (If you don’t know the song, search “I’ve got the joy joy joy” on YouTube.)

— April Hoope

“When I was a kid I loved counting down the days of Advent by opening the numbered ‘doors’ on our family Advent calendar (sometimes we would get in trouble for opening the slots too early). It brings me joy to see the excitement of my nieces and nephews as they carry on the same tradition.” Try the Shepherd Advent calendar (with Bible text) from LuminaGifts.com

— Robyn Lee

“Go to a blessing of an outdoor Nativity scene. Our pastor introduced it this year, and, gathered around the Nativity scene with its manger awaiting the Baby Jesus, we listened to readings and sang carols in anticipation of Christmas soon-to-come.”

— Joseph Pronechen

FIVE Ways to Use FIVE Minutes

Sprinkle joy throughout your day, five minutes at a time ...

1.Crank up the volume on your favorite upbeat song — and dance from room to room with your spousee

2.Light a candle to remind your family of the joy of the incarnation of Jesus, the Light of the World.

3.eat your favorite food for breakfast — even (especially) if it’s ice cream or chocolate!

4.write a thank-you note to a special teacher who brings the joy of learning to one of your childrenn

5.have the kids haul out their instruments (pots and lids will suffice) and play/sing along to a spirited reading of Psalm 100, which begins: “Shout joyfully to the Lord, all you lands; worship the Lord with cries of gladness; come before him with joyful song.”

Well said!

“Joy is a net of love by which you can catch souls.”

— Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta

“Joy increases as you give it, and diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself.”

— Norman Vincent Peale

“Joy delights in joy.”

— William Shakespeare

“One of the sanest, surest, and most generous joys of life comes from being happy over the good fortune of others.”

— Robert A. Heinlein

‘How-To’ Tips

Open your home to joy —

and bring your family’s joy to the world!

Here is a bunch of ideas to help inspire joy, as holiday faith and family time is upon us.

•Commit to have an “attitude of gratitude” that lasts beyond Thanksgiving Day.

•Unearth your kids’ favorite holiday-season books — and gather to read one together each evening. (Tuck them away in a box post-Christmas for a special treat only at this time of year.)

•Wear pink on the third Sunday of Advent, Gaudete Sunday (Latin for “Rejoice”). Even the boys can deal with it for a single day.

•Gather friends for some good, old-fashioned Christmas caroling — in your home or through the neighborhood. Don’t forget the hot cocoa.

•Repeat aloud these four words: “No school until January!”

•Learn to say “Merry Christmas” in other languages.

•For this year’s holiday baking, let the kids pour and stir … and be not afraid of the flour blizzard!

•Draw names to match each family member with an “Advent Angel.” Throughout Advent, the whole family will perform acts of charity in secret to keep the joy going all season long.

•Have a spirited family snowman-building contest, if your climate and weather cooperate. Give prizes for the biggest and the most creative creatures.

•Spread the joy. Give homemade cards to teachers, coaches, the mail carrier, etc. — whoever went “above and beyond” in caring for your family this year.

•Capture the season by taking a lot of smiling pictures … and get them out of the camera before next Christmas!

•Send joy-filled greeting cards to a local children’s hospital.

•Don’t overspend your Christmas budget. It may bring fleeting joy now, but will make for a miserable January.

•Sing “Happy Birthday” to Jesus at high volume — before a single gift is unwrapped.

Win! Win!

This issue’s prize is a framed painting of

Car­vaggio’s Conversion of St. Paul, provided by CatholicToTheMax.com. The gold frame is solid wood.

Congratulations to last issue’s winner,

Angelina DiNorcia, Evergreen, Colo.

Looking for a way to win? Just participate in any of our “Homework” requests throughout the magazine, or send your name, postal, and email addresses to Homework —

see page 6 for contact information.

Precious Words

The Quest

My granddaughter Fiona is 5.

I picked up the phone one day and it was her. She asked, “Grandma when can we start our painting project?” I told her, “When I find the time.” Always willing to assist, she answered: “I can help you look for it!”

Stating the Obvious

It’s fun when family relationships start to dawn on kids and they realize that their mom had a mom. I was quizzing my 3-year-old on family relatives. He showed how well he had grasped the lesson by saying: “Grandma’s my grandma!”

High Waters

I put on a pair of capris and my son, 5, asked, “What kind of clothes are those?” I explained that they are in between shorts and pants, they are capris. Hesitantly he asked, “But … are they your size?”

Baseball Lesson

I was playing baseball in the back yard with my 3-year-old son, Michael. I’m the pitcher; he’s the batter. But sometimes, mom doesn’t pitch so well. When my throw is wildly off, he says: “Mom, you’re not keeping your eye on my bat.”

Flower Power

My son, 4, and I were out in my garden when I pointed out a beautiful sunflower growing in the garden. He declared that girls say “beautiful” and not boys. When I asked him what boys call flowers that are beautiful he said, “They call them … ‘handsome.’”

Tex-Mex Fairy Land

While driving in the car I hear a yell from the back, “Can we go to Tinkerbell?” Wondering what my 3-year-old could be talking about, I look out the window and see a Taco Bell!

HOMEWORK: Share your child’s precious words. See page 6 for contact information.