Speaker 1
What a joy it is to meet creative people. Dave. Carl is one of those people, and I mean this.
Dave, as I look you in the eye today, we have you to thank for creating the scripts for our Paws and Tales ministry. Over the years, you've written the stories and you put them together in such a beautiful way with all the characters in it that people I know sit on the edge of their seat listening to them from one day to the next.
So catch us up for those that may not know what Paws and Tales refers to, and then give us a little bit of an insight that you have regarding this ministry.
Speaker 2
I'd be thrilled to Pause and Tales was born from your storytelling as a young adult. I'm sitting listening to your sermons and your storytelling, and I think of Pause and Tales as an extension of your storytelling. This is a fictional world with talking animals, and we are using this story to sneak in biblical truths. The key message is that God is just crazy in love with His children, and you can't hear that too much. We try to express it in a thousand different ways as we created Pause and Tales, which has been around for a long, long time. We have four new episodes this last year, and we have new projects in the works.
We receive letters, and I have one in front of me now that I'd like to read to you. This just gives me pause. From the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you all for your ministry. I have five children, and we've been listening to your podcast for years, since my oldest, almost 12, was little. We love it and wait for the new episodes with great anticipation. My fifth was born last year; she will be one at the end of this month. She was given a birth diagnosis of Down syndrome.
You can imagine all of our amazement when we listened to the new episode yesterday. I was driving with them all, and as the story was building, I knew something was going to be different with the baby. I did not expect it to be exactly what our family has experienced. We were all overcome with emotion. It was good and healing in a way that I can't quite explain. I know it's all God. As we listened to the rest of the story, we were just in awe that it parallels ours so perfectly. Everything that was said, the way the church responded, all of it.
We were so blessed to have had this loving welcome for our baby girl, who is also very healthy and normal in all of the ways any other baby would be. We felt like someone knew us personally and made this episode just for us. I told the kids that if they ever doubt God is real, I want them to remember this day. Because God told the creators of Paws and Tales to make an episode just for them. That is how we feel, and we praise God for how He has worked through you all.
Please pass this on to all who had a hand in making these new episodes happen; to God be the glory. Also, is there an address my kids could write to? I think they'd like to say something in their own words. Thank you so much.
A family from North Dakota.
Speaker 1
When you first read that to me, Dave, some time ago, my eyes filled with tears as I thought about the remarkable fact that you created that story knowing nothing of this family. And now they are hearing it and it feels like it was written, as they put it, just for them.
That's the way God's word is. It's not true for just generality or the open public. It's truth for you. And believe me, it's truth for me. Always relevant, always real, always on target.
Thank you for your wonderful support of our ministry. As you give financially, we're able to continue touching lives that reach people who will realize the truth is just for them.
Speaker 3
Welcome to the world of Paws and tales.
Speaker 4
Wild Mountain can be a pretty dangerous place if you stay on the trails and stick with me. There's adventures to be had there, too.
Speaker 5
Come on, cj. Jump.
Speaker 6
It's too far.
Speaker 7
It wasn't too far for me.
Speaker 3
Insight for Living is proud to present Paws and Tails. Howdy and welcome to Wildwood.
There's a blanket of snow on the ground and the night sky is clear and cold. Perfect weather for getting you into the Christmas spirit.
The club has volunteered to deliver the Christmas baskets to Harmony this year, and it promises to be a night of excitement and Christmas fun.
Speaker 5
We've got 15, 16. 17 toy baskets. And eight 19 food. Basketball, 27. We need two more. Where are the other two? Goose?
Speaker 7
I've got one here, just finishing up.
Speaker 5
I've got the other one, but I need help.
Speaker 8
Marcia. I will save the day. You need me to carry this heavy basket, little lady?
Speaker 5
No, C.J. i need you to hold your finger on the knot while I tie it.
Speaker 8
Oh, well, I think I can handle that.
Speaker 5
Okay, then. 29 baskets. Are the others ready?
Speaker 6
Yes, Commander Goos, they're ready.
Speaker 5
Oh, Ned. I like that.
Speaker 7
Doesn't seem fair for the folks in Harmony. Wildwood's grown a lot this last year. There's lots more poor families that need Christmas baskets.
Speaker 5
How many baskets did Harmony have to make?
Speaker 9
Good question. Last year. Here, let's put that one over here. Last year, Pastor Flank gave them A list of 23 needy families in Wildwood. This year, it's gone up to 137.
Speaker 5
Whoa.
Speaker 8
137?
Speaker 6
Didn't they complain they have to do more than we do?
Speaker 9
They did not complain. The mayor of Harmony said this last year that they've been so blessed by God that they are filled to overflowing. Because of that, they want to be a blessing to others.
Speaker 6
Seems like Wildwood's had all the blessings. We've done all the growing.
Speaker 9
Well, there's lots of ways to be blessed. The trick is to be wise enough to recognize all the blessings that God's given you.
Speaker 7
Kind of sounds like a game. Find the ways God has blessed you.
Speaker 5
That would be a great game. I love it.
Speaker 9
Okay, looks like we got them all. I'll bring the sleigh around and we can load up and head out for Harmony.
Speaker 5
This is gonna be so fun.
Speaker 9
Bundle up, everyone. It's cold out there.
Speaker 5
I can't wait to bluff someone.
Speaker 8
Okay, all the big, strong guys, start carrying baskets to the sleigh. Ned, that's us.
Speaker 6
Oh, yeah, that's us. I'm coming.
Speaker 3
Well, they got that sleigh so full of Christmas baskets and youngins, it's a wonder something didn't spill out on the way. Even though it was nighttime, the moon was full enough that you could just about read a book by the moonlight.
Speaker 5
Ride on the one horse open sleigh there.
Speaker 7
I can see the town lights.
Speaker 9
Okay, now here's the plan.
Speaker 5
I just love it when there's a plan.
Speaker 9
We'll pack the jingle bells away. And, C.J. you have the list? On the map?
Speaker 8
Right here, sir.
Speaker 5
C.J.
Speaker 10
Hey, Tay.
Speaker 8
Sorry, got carried away.
Speaker 9
We will try to do this as quietly as we can so that they won't know that we're even here.
Speaker 6
This is very fun.
Speaker 3
Phil and the club slipped into harmony. Quiet as a feather falling on the snow. At least for a while.
Speaker 9
Okay, okay, listen, this is the first house.
Speaker 5
I want to take it up.
Speaker 8
I carried the baskets.
Speaker 5
I should get to go first.
Speaker 6
So did I. Why did I get to go first? Sh.
Speaker 9
Goose, you get the first one. CJ Gets the next one. And Ned. Then down the line.
Speaker 6
You got to be lying. Goose. Goose. Go.
Speaker 5
Here I go.
Speaker 9
Okay, CJ, this is the next one.
Speaker 5
Got it. This is so exciting.
Speaker 10
We'll never know who it came from.
Speaker 5
That was fun. Let's another. We're gonna be a blessing to others. This is great. I love being a blessing. Do you think that this is the only presents they'll get?
Speaker 9
Couldn't say.
Speaker 6
Oh, all right.
Speaker 9
Here comes cj.
Speaker 5
This is the best.
Speaker 6
Okay, okay, I'm next.
Speaker 3
They moved through the night and left the Christmas basket for everyone on the list. And then they turned that sleigh around and headed for home. They sang some more and told old stories until they came into sight of Wildwood.
Speaker 5
I'm tired.
Speaker 6
Me too. And my tails are all frozen stiff.
Speaker 7
It's a good feeling being a blessing to others.
Speaker 8
Especially knowing that it might be all they get.
Speaker 9
Okay, next stop, the gun. Gooseler residence.
Speaker 5
Well, that's me. Thanks for taking us, Mr. Brown.
Speaker 9
Glad to do it. Goodnight, Goose.
Speaker 5
Good night, everyone.
Speaker 7
Good night, Goose.
Speaker 6
See you tomorrow. Hey, bring your sled.
Speaker 5
Hey, what's. What's that?
Speaker 8
What's what?
Speaker 5
On her front step.
Speaker 7
Oh no.
Speaker 6
Are those baskets?
Speaker 5
Oh no.
Speaker 6
They are baskets.
Speaker 8
The folks from Harmony gave poor baskets.
Speaker 7
To Goose and all our brothers and sisters, it looks like.
Speaker 6
How awful.
Speaker 9
Awful? What's so awful?
Speaker 6
They figured that Goose and her family were so bad off that they need to get pore baskets.
Speaker 9
They're Christmas baskets. When did they become poor? Baskets.
Speaker 7
Look, she's just quietly sneaking them in her house. How embarrassing. Goose is poor.
Speaker 9
It's late and everyone is sleeping. She's just being quiet. She's not sneaking. Now hang on.
Speaker 8
I never really thought about it before. Goose is poor.
Speaker 5
How will she face us in the morning?
Speaker 7
We have to be there for her.
Speaker 9
I think you are all making too much of this. Hey, Ned. Coming up on your house.
Speaker 6
Okay, whatever happens tomorrow, we have to make her feel comfortable. Like this didn't even happen.
Speaker 8
Night, dad.
Speaker 6
Huh?
Speaker 3
The next morning, the club was slowly gathering on the best sledding hill in town. Not too steep, a little curvy. And it just goes on and on.
Speaker 8
Hey, Ned.
Speaker 6
Hey, cj. Have you seen her yet?
Speaker 8
No, not yet.
Speaker 5
Hey guys.
Speaker 6
Hey.
Speaker 5
Look at the snow. Oh, this is great. Is she here?
Speaker 6
Not yet. Now remember, the best thing to do is just act normal.
Speaker 8
When was the last time we did that?
Speaker 6
You know what I mean.
Speaker 5
Look at the snow.
Speaker 7
Where's Goose?
Speaker 8
Not here yet.
Speaker 5
Do you think that maybe she is so upset she will never come out again?
Speaker 6
That is one possible reaction. Now just remember, all we have to do is.
Speaker 10
Yeah, yeah.
Speaker 5
Act normal. Hey Goose. Hey, guys. Wow. Did you ever see such a beautiful winter day?
Speaker 6
Oh no.
Speaker 10
What?
Speaker 6
She's in denial.
Speaker 5
What?
Speaker 6
She's acting like it didn't happen.
Speaker 7
Isn't that what you told us to do?
Speaker 6
Yes, but it's bad if she does it. Just act normal.
Speaker 5
Oh, who's going first stays?
Speaker 7
Me. Oh, well, thank you, Goose, but I think that. Well, you should go first.
Speaker 5
Really? You always want to go first. Really, Goose, maybe you should go first. May I help you? Help me what?
Speaker 6
You guys are acting like gooseballs.
Speaker 8
Maybe we should just talk about it.
Speaker 6
No, it's too early for confrontation. She needs time to process.
Speaker 10
What are you talking about, Goose?
Speaker 5
Oh, hi, Tiffany. Wow, what a great coat that is. And look at that hat. Oh, it's beautiful.
Speaker 6
See? She's tortured by what she doesn't have.
Speaker 10
Thank you, Goose. Goose, is it true that you got six pore baskets last night?
Speaker 7
Tiffany.
Speaker 8
Oh, my, what a thing to say.
Speaker 5
Oh, that. Can you believe it? Each one of us kids got one. Must be some kind of a mistake. Okay, Stace, if you're just gonna stand there. Here I go.
Speaker 10
So it's true.
Speaker 6
This is bad. She's been confronted and still she's acting like it doesn't bother her. This is really bad. Oh, Dave, I've had another flash of genius.
Speaker 2
Really, Ned? First, the bread decruster. And another one, too. This is gonna be a very big day for you.
Speaker 6
Yeah, but the decruster is still in development, so that doesn't really count.
No, I'm thinking it would be just a little bit of Christmas magic if we put a paws and tails ball cap, a paws and tails T-shirt, and a paws and tails pen made from a branch of a tree.
Speaker 2
How about adding a pause and tails activity book?
Speaker 6
Please don't interrupt me. I'm in the genius zone. And then we put a paws and tails activity book, too. And we put it all in a fashionable drawstring backpack. And then we call it Joelle. Drum roll, please.
Speaker 5
I have no drumroll, Ned.
Speaker 6
And then we call it the pawsittails Christmas Cornucopia Bag of happiness.
Speaker 5
That's the swag bag nut all ready to go in the warehouse.
Speaker 2
We planned that some time ago. The paws and tails swag bag.
Speaker 6
Oh, well, a way to take my idea and run with it, fellows. Could work. Just zip on over, everybody, to pawsandtails.org and get your Ned's genius idea.
Speaker 5
Swag bag.
Speaker 2
Oh, stop tape.
Speaker 3
Well, despite the fact that no one could act normal in front of goos, they did manage to have a great time sledding. The next morning, they were headed to Papa Chuck's shop, and they realized that the whole town was abuzz with excitement.
Speaker 9
Hey there, kids.
Speaker 5
Hey, Mr. Crawford.
Speaker 6
Hey, Mr. Crawford.
Speaker 9
So, did any of you did you get one last night?
Speaker 7
One what?
Speaker 9
A gift bag. Folks all around town got a little gift bag left on their front porch.
Speaker 6
Poor folks?
Speaker 9
Oh, all kinds of folks, I guess.
Speaker 7
What was in the bags?
Speaker 9
Oh, one or two toys for the young UN's.
Speaker 8
And no one knows who did it?
Speaker 9
No idea whatsoever. Merry Christmas.
Speaker 7
Merry Christmas.
Speaker 8
Yeah, Merry Christmas.
Speaker 6
Who would do something like this?
Speaker 5
Are you upset? Is that because you didn't get one?
Speaker 6
No, it's just not normal. This guy is like a Christmas bandit. But not really a bandit. Cause it's more like someone who sneaks around and gives things instead of taking them. And there's just no word for someone like that. Who is this guy?
Speaker 3
Well, things just got stranger and stranger that night. There were more little gift bags left for the children of Wildwood. And even more the night after that.
Now, for most, this was a wonderful Christmas time reminder of the joy of giving and, well, just mysterious fun. For others, this kind of generosity was, well, nothing but an irritation.
Speaker 9
Hey there, Ned.
Speaker 6
Morning, Mr. Crawford.
Speaker 9
Your order's almost ready. It'll be just a couple of minutes. Oh, hey, tell your mom the material will be in next week.
Speaker 6
Hey, I'll just look through the catalog.
Speaker 9
Help yourself.
Speaker 10
Well, good morning, Ned.
Speaker 6
Oh, hi, Tiffany.
Speaker 10
Heard about the gift bags?
Speaker 6
Yes, and I find it very disturbing.
Speaker 10
I got one.
Speaker 6
Did you really?
Speaker 10
This gift bag person thinks that I need a trashy little toy. That I need anything. I mean, it's offensive.
Speaker 6
It's really weird.
Speaker 10
It's got to stop.
Speaker 6
Who knows where this kind of thing could lead to.
Speaker 10
Everyone thinks this guy is so wonderful. I want to catch him. Really, I need your help. I have a plan to catch this. This Christmas bandit.
Speaker 6
Yeah, but he's not really a bandit because he gives stuff away.
Speaker 10
We're going to tie strings of bells across the front steps of houses. When this comes to the front door to leave another bag, he will step into the bells and folks will come running to catch him. He'll be caught. He will be embarrassed.
Speaker 6
Oh, yeah. But how do we know where he will strike? Oh, there's gotta be a word for this. Non Bandit.
Speaker 10
We will tie bells on every house on the north side of town.
Speaker 6
Now, where are we gonna get all those bells, Ned?
Speaker 10
I'm Tiffany Rockler. I get anything I want.
Speaker 6
I forgot. You can imagine my embarrassment.
Speaker 10
Tomorrow morning, this Christmas bandit will be finished.
Speaker 6
Perhaps anti bandit. No, that's just silly.
Speaker 3
So after dark, Ned and Tiffany worked for hours sneaking around, tying strings of bells in the dark spots of most every house on the north side.
Speaker 10
Of town, Tie them across the porch. You know, he might even drip and injure himself.
Speaker 6
Wow, way to dream big, Tiffany.
Speaker 10
You are making too much noise. Be quiet.
Speaker 8
Sorry.
Speaker 3
They both woke up tired in the morning, but they were anxious to get to town early and hear news of who the Christmas gift giving bandit was.
Speaker 6
Hey, Ned, C.J. did you hear anything about the Bizarro Bandit?
Speaker 5
The what?
Speaker 6
Yeah, that's not right either. The gift giving guy.
Speaker 8
Oh, yeah.
Speaker 6
Really? Who is it? Papa Chuck?
Speaker 10
Good morning, boys. I bet it's Mr. Crawford.
Speaker 8
Well, I don't know who it is, but he sure was busy last night.
Speaker 10
Busy? How was he busy?
Speaker 8
Well, more gift bags were given out on the south side of town.
Speaker 10
No, not the South.
Speaker 6
South side.
Speaker 8
What's even better is that he left Christmas bells on the front steps of almost every house on the north side.
Speaker 10
What?
Speaker 5
Yeah, I heard it too. Isn't it great? Everyone loves the guy. This is a great Christmas.
Speaker 10
This is not great. They were not Christmas bells. And it wasn't Tiffany.
Speaker 6
Ick, Navy and at bay.
Speaker 5
I've never had a better Christmas.
Speaker 10
Goose, did you get a Christmas bag?
Speaker 5
Me? Well, no.
Speaker 10
You have no gift bag. You get poor baskets. You will likely get very little for Christmas at all. How can you be so happy?
Speaker 6
I think she's got it all bottled up inside. It can't be good for you, goose.
Speaker 10
You need to be sad, okay? You need to be humiliated and miserable. This happy, Merry Christmas stuff is not normal.
Speaker 7
Hey, guys, I got Christmas bells from.
Speaker 5
The gift bag guy. Isn't it great? I love this.
Speaker 10
Stop it with the happy talk.
Speaker 5
Sorry.
Speaker 7
Whoever it is, he's making this a really great Christmas. Those bells must have cost a fortune.
Speaker 10
They did. Um, probably. Ned.
Speaker 6
Perhaps the backwards bandit.
Speaker 8
No, that's not.
Speaker 7
It doesn't rain.
Speaker 6
Aw, nuts.
Speaker 10
Ned, don't you think it's time to go look at the catalog in the general store?
Speaker 6
Why would I want to, Ned? Oh, oh, yeah. I think it's time to go look at the catalog at the general store. I'll catch up with you guys later.
Speaker 5
Okay, that was very odd.
Speaker 8
See you later.
Speaker 6
Time to look at the catalog. I know you've gotta be more subtle. There's an art to this kind of thing.
Speaker 10
Tonight we crush him. This nutcase bandit.
Speaker 6
Okay, perhaps we'll talk about subtlety at a later time.
Speaker 10
I have another plan.
Speaker 6
Oh, boy.
Speaker 10
First we go to the hardware store.
Speaker 3
And Tiffany surely did have a plan. She knew the north side was the only place that the Christmas gift-giving bandit had not been to yet.
So she and Ned took up a hiding place in front of a house full of kids. Tiffany had Lily ready to ring the church bell.
And, well, she had prepared other stuff as well.
Speaker 6
I'm cold.
Speaker 10
Be quiet.
Speaker 6
Aren't you cold?
Speaker 10
No, I'm burning up.
Speaker 6
Oh, really, Tiffany?
Speaker 10
What?
Speaker 6
You seem like you have a lot of angst.
Speaker 10
Of course I do. I can buy anything.
Speaker 6
I don't quite know how to respond to that.
Speaker 10
Quiet. Someone's over there. I think this might be the Christmas Bandit.
Speaker 6
But he's not really a bandit. He's more like a quiet gift delivery guy. Ow. I'm quiet.
Speaker 10
A little bit closer. A little bit closer. Now the lights. Hit the lights.
Speaker 5
Oh, yeah.
Speaker 10
I can't believe it.
Speaker 6
What? What? What? Who is it?
Speaker 10
It's her.
Speaker 5
Oh, hey there, Ned. Tiffany.
Speaker 10
The Christmas Bandit is. Goose.
Speaker 5
Winter is just around the corner.
Speaker 2
Yes, it is. Even in Wildwood, the temperatures are starting to fall.
Speaker 5
Do you know what the biggest problem in the whole gigantic world is?
Speaker 2
I guess I.
Speaker 6
What is it?
Speaker 5
What to wear to school. I get so excited about going to school that I don't plan stuff out very well. I wore my shirt on backwards last week. Don't you know why?
Speaker 2
I think I've got a suggestion for you. Here is one of our newly made paws and tails T shirts. It has the paws and tails logo on the front so you'll never be confused and wear it backwards.
Speaker 5
Oh, that is so clever. Did you think of that? Nice job there, Dave.
Speaker 2
Well, no, it's just kind of normal.
Speaker 5
It would be so great if people could just go onto pawsintails.org and order them in various sizes and all and get the shirt. That will make going to school easy and not all backwards. It's a real problem.
Speaker 2
You know, Goose, I think you are a genius.
Speaker 6
Wow.
Speaker 10
Goose.
Speaker 2
Goose is the Christmas gift giving bandit.
Speaker 5
It was Goose.
Speaker 10
We got her. We got her. Gotten the very act.
Speaker 6
Goose, it was you all along.
Speaker 5
It was indeed. What's going on here?
Speaker 10
Paw Paw. Chuck. The Christmas Bandit is Goose. All we need now is for Officer Hunt to take her away.
Speaker 4
Take her away for what exactly?
Speaker 10
For what? For? Well, for stealing, for one thing. There's no way that she could afford to buy all those toys that she gave out.
Speaker 5
That's a very good point. She wouldn't do Well, I didn't steal anything. I wouldn't do a thing like that.
Speaker 10
Then where did you get all those toys?
Speaker 5
Well, we got six Christmas baskets full of toys. Don't you know?
Speaker 6
You mean you've been giving away the stuff that you've got from the poor baskets.
Speaker 3
Remarkable.
Speaker 6
I've never heard of such a thing.
Speaker 10
That is just the kind of thing that I am talking about. This is not normal.
Speaker 4
No, it's not.
Speaker 5
What? Papa Chuck?
Speaker 4
Nothing normal about it, Goose. That's one of the most generous things I've ever seen.
Speaker 5
Really? Wow.
Speaker 10
But she was glittering.
Speaker 6
No, technically she wasn't, Ned. Ow.
Speaker 10
She was sneaking around at night.
Speaker 5
My folks said I could.
Speaker 10
Your parents aren't on this.
Speaker 6
You know, I find this gift bag thing a little strange too, but you are taking it so personally.
Speaker 10
It is a matter of balance. People who have little or nothing need to know that they have little or nothing. That way they will fight and claw and sacrifice to get more at all cost so that they can become happy.
Speaker 5
So folks with more stuff are happier?
Speaker 10
Of course.
Speaker 4
Oh, Tiffany.
Speaker 10
If people like that insufferable little weasel are contented, even happy.
Speaker 4
Oh, I'd call her downright joyful.
Speaker 10
Exactly. If others like her are joyful with little or nothing, then, well, I think you can see what that would lead to.
Speaker 6
Um, no. What exactly would that lead to?
Speaker 10
Oh, it would be chaos. It's not natural. Why can't you bump and see that?
Speaker 6
But you have everything that there is to have. And you're miserable, angry and mean. Oh, you are all nuts.
Speaker 10
There is not one of you that is normal.
Speaker 6
I meant that in the nicest possible way. Was it something I said?
Speaker 5
I didn't mean to upset anyone or to create chaos. I. I was just overflowing. I. I wanted others to feel as overflowed as I do. That's not a very good sentence, is it?
Speaker 6
Okay, this is where I start getting confused now. If I got a poor basket, I would be completely embarrassed. I would be mad at whoever thought I needed one.
Speaker 2
Snead.
Speaker 5
They weren't poor baskets. They were Christmas baskets.
Speaker 6
But people think that you were poor.
Speaker 5
Why would anyone think that I'm overflowed? Ah.
Speaker 6
Ah.
Speaker 5
There she did it again.
Speaker 4
Goose, you are something else.
Speaker 5
Yeah. Is that a good thing?
Speaker 6
Fr.
Speaker 4
It's a wonderful thing. Most folks find it nearly impossible to be satisfied with what God's given them.
Speaker 5
I was just playing the game.
Speaker 4
What game?
Speaker 7
Find the ways God has blessed you game.
Speaker 5
That's exactly right. That's why I'm overflowing. You're overflowing? Yep. Overflowing.
Speaker 6
Well, I'm not overflowing. Tiffany certainly isn't overflowing.
Speaker 4
Why, Goose? Why are you overflowing?
Speaker 5
Well, I just started thinking of all the ways God is blessed. I have. Well, I Have a great family, I have the best friends ever. And well, you guys, it's Christmas. I just got so thankful. I wanted everyone else to feel overflowing.
Speaker 6
Don't you want a lot of presents? Don't you want a coat like Tiffany's?
Speaker 5
Well, presents would be nice, but goodness, one weasel girl can only overflow so much. Well, I've got some more gift bags. Wanna help me deliver em?
Speaker 6
Sure, yeah. Yes goose, I do. Come on, let's deliver those bags.
Speaker 5
Oh yeah.
Speaker 3
That was the beginning of a very special Christmas for the club. There were going to be Christmases that were not very good and no one would feel filled up to overflowing. But when those tough times came around, the club was so good at finding the blessings God gave them, they were able to be content.
Anyhow, Tiffany never did figure out that having more is not the way to get overflowing. The problem is that the way is so simple she couldn't see it. Count your many blessings, thank God for them, and have a very merry Christmas.
Speaker 5
Here we go once again. It's almost that time, and folks have made their wish list of presents that they'd like beneath their tree. But my list, from top to bottom, consists of things I've already gotten. Blessings that the Lord has given me—Autumn leaves and April showers, and counting clouds for hours—that's what keeps me grinning ear to ear.
So the best part of December is stopping to remember the gifts that God has given me all year. Timeless friends, watching fireflies, or riding in a one-horse sleigh. From fun in the sun to snowball fights, He's made it feel like Christmas every day.
So instead of simply hoping for packages to open, I think of all the things that bring me cheer. 'Cause the best part of December is stopping to remember the gifts that God has given me all year.
Doop be doop be doobie doo doo badoo ba choo be doo ah jing a ling a ling makes me laugh and sing. Yippee skipper! Happy FA la la la la time with friends, watching fireflies, or riding in a one-horse sleigh. From fun in the sun to snowball fights, He's made it feel like Christmas every day.
So instead of simply hoping for packages to open, I think of all the things that bring me cheer. 'Cause the best part of December is stopping to remember the gifts that God has given me all year.
Yeah, it's the best part of December—stopping to remember the gifts that God has given me all year. All year.
Speaker 3
True Riches was written by Steve Gulsvig and David Carl and directed by David Carl. The song the Best Part of December was written by Sandy Howell and Shelley Space. Music was by Tim Hosman. And our sound designer was Eric Basil.
Speaker 6
I got it. Contraband it.
Speaker 7
No, no, I don't like that.
Speaker 6
Aw, nuts.
Speaker 3
On the next episode of Paws and Tails.
Speaker 10
This year with our gift exchange, I thought we'd try something different. Before you open them, appreciate the one who gave it to you.
Speaker 8
Stacy, what's wrong? You look like you ate a bug.
Speaker 7
It's worse than that, cj. My gift is from you.
Speaker 3
Be sure to join us for another episode of Insight for Living's Paws and Tales.
Learn How
