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~ J Clay Norton, Ed.D.

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Category Archives: Gift

24/7, 365 – Christmas All The Time… Why Not?

13 Monday Dec 2021

Posted by The Book Chamber in Actions, Christmas, Consistency, Emotion, Engagement, Essence, Family, Friendship, Gift, Giving, Grace, Gratitude, Intentional, Kindness, Relationships, Servant, Sincerity

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All+Year+Long+LOGO

Here’s the “thing” I have noticed about me… The older I get, the more I pay attention to the lyrics of songs. Don’t read this and ask yourself, “Seriously?” Anyway… yes. I don’t know why, but I do. So, the other night, driving home, Christmas Time by Bryan Adams came on the radio, and for some reason, the words took on a different meaning… Look at the lyrics throughout the song…

We waited all through the year
For the day to appear
When we could be together in harmony

You know the time will come
Peace on earth for everyone
And we can live forver in a world where we are free
Let it shine for you and me

There’s something about Christmas time
Something about Christmas time
Makes you wish it was Christmas every day
To see the joy in the children’s eyes
The way that the old folks smile
Says that Christmas will never go away

We’re all as one tonight
Makes no difference if you’re black or white
‘Cause we can sing together in harmony
I know it’s not too late
The world would be a better place
If we could keep the spirit more than one day in the year
Send a message loud and clear

It’s the time of year everyone’s together
And celebrate here on Christmas day
When the ones you love are there
You can feel the magic in the air, you know it’s everywhere

There’s something about Christmas time
Please tell me Christmas will never go away

The month of November, with Thanksgiving, and the month of December, with Christmas, has a way of stirring emotions that just maybe, are not.. let’s say “used” during the other months. Why?

Take one more example… below is a speech in The Honeymooners by Ralph Kramden, played by Jackie Gleason, speaking to his wife Alice, played by Audrey Meadows, (Yes, we watch The Honeymooners at our house.) To watch, click here: Ralph Kramden’s Christmas Speech

“You know something, sweetheart? Christmas is… well, it’s about the best time of the whole year. When you walk down the streets, even for weeks before Christmas comes, and there’s lights hanging up, green ones and red ones, sometimes there’s snow and everyone’s hustling someplace. But they don’t hustle around Christmas time like they usually do. You know, they’re a little more friendlier… they bump into you, they laugh, and they say, “Pardon me. Merry Christmas,”… especially when it gets real close to Christmas night. Everybody’s walking home; you can hardly hear a sound. Bells are ringin’, kids are singing, the snow is coming down. And boy, what a pleasure it is to think that you’ve got someplace to go to. And that the place that you’re going to, there’s somebody in it that you really love. Someone, you’re nuts about. Merry Christmas.”

I get it; Christmas is one day out of the year. But, what if… we made our hearts live as if it were Christmas all the other days? I get it; feelings (those that are positive and good) are different at Christmas. But what if… our hearts wrapped up those feelings and carried them January – November? I get it; … you can fill in the rest with your own thoughts.

As we move into the middle of December and closer to Christmas day, the more thoughts, feelings, emotions are stirred because it is Christmas time; it might be just because I am getting older. Nonetheless, we would all be better if we celebrated Christmas joy all through the year. In the end, I guess it can boil down to what I have always said, “Just do right by people.”

Live life as if it were Christmas everyday, why not? Merry Christmas everyone. This coming Friday will be the last blog of 2021 and it will be my 2021 Christmas Thoughts Poem…

Go be a great educator and leader today… Our future needs it…

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others…

©2021 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts? Follow me on… Twitter @thebookchamber or following the blog directly.

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Let There Be Light… The Light of the World

20 Friday Dec 2019

Posted by The Book Chamber in Christmas, Gift, God, Grace, Jesus, Light

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If you would like to download a printer friendly version of this with the above picture as a washout watermark, click here: Let There Be Light… The Light of the World

Let There Be Light…
The Light of the World

Time, clothed in darkness many years…
God’s word thought silent too long.

Prophets foretold the coming…
Yet, time produced nothing.

Mankind… waiting, wanting…
Of the Word to become flesh.

A Promised Savior to be…
Who would step out of His glory.

…Christ…

A starry night made bright…
Led shepherds and Magi to The Light.

The Light that shines in darkness…
The Glory of The Light to shine all around us.

The Light that will show everyone The Way…
To shine for all time and make all things right.

His life, to be The Light to man…
The Light unto salvation.

The True Light that brings Eternal hope…
Showing mercy and love.

God said, “Let there be Light…”
The Light of the world, is given for us.

…Let The Light shine this Christmas season…

©2019 J Clay Norton

Remember… Think Leadership and Be For Others

©2019 J Clay Norton

Want more Leadership Thoughts?  Follow me on…

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Is Your Leadership A Gift?

14 Friday Dec 2018

Posted by The Book Chamber in Actions, Choice, Gift, Giving, Heart, Importance, Integrity, Leader, Leadership, Present, Purpose, Relationships, Servant, Transactional, Transformational, Value

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It’s the season of giving…

First, a disclaimer… This is about intentional giving and not about giving out of obligation (I have never been a fan of that anyway).

Have you ever considered the mental taxation and stress that goes on our hearts and minds of buying a present? Often, there are serious calculations that take place, causing the Advil bottle to empty quickly. The heavy sighs of not knowing what to give, the internet searches, the pages of the catalogs turning, asking others what they think, looking for the one present that says as much about you as it does the person you are buying for.

When we buy a present for someone, it is nothing more than a transaction.  Hardly any feelings take place between the seller and the buyer.  There is probably a friendly, polite conversation but no emotional feelings are exchanged. Why? Because when we make a purchase, a relationship is not established. Just another heavy sigh takes place, but this time one of relief, knowing that you have completed the task.

Gifting_2-sized

But…
Once you give that present to someone, it becomes a gift — everything changes; you take on a different mindset — the anticipation in hoping that everything you went through to make that “transaction” was worth it. Relationships are established when we give the present. The present becomes a gift because when we give it, we are expressing to that person you value them and you want them to be a part of your family or a part of your inner circle.

For some of the gifts we give, a lot of thought process goes into it.  We really try hard to find that perfect gift for others.  Why is this? Intentionality! I believe when we give gifts, it says something about what is inside of us and the relationship that we have with the recipients.  As I think about it a little more now, everything we give shows what is inside of us.  Our time, money, thoughts, etc.; even our leadership.

What then can be said of our leadership as we give it to others?  Is it intentional or out of obligation? Is your leadership nothing more than a present of a transaction? Does it matter what we give in regards to leadership?  I believe so.  Let’s make sure that it does. Turn your leadership into a gift for others. Let it transform not only you but them also.

©2018 J Clay Norton

Remember… THINK LEADERSHIP!

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Thanksgiving Grace

16 Friday Nov 2018

Posted by The Book Chamber in Gift, God, Grace, Jesus, Leader, Leadership, Purpose, Thanksgiving

≈ 1 Comment

Hope each of you have a wonderful Thanksgiving…

If you would like to print and have a paper copy of this, click here: Thanksgiving Grace1

Screen Shot 2018-11-13 at 9.20.00 AM

 

Thanksgiving Grace

Grace… Bestowed by God –
Accepted and appreciated in humility.

The gift of life, a remarkable thing – 
Every breath, a beat of the heart.

The Heavens declare His grace – 
The noonday sun, the nighttime stars.

Grace displayed beautifully through the Scriptures –
Following Jesus; what a change!

The words of Jesus ring out to all who would hear Him say –
“Come unto me… and you will find rest.”

Grace, seen in the purpose of God –
“How sweet the sound…”

The grace you seek is in Him –
Knowing “I was once lost, but now am found.”

We cannot boast or make any claims –
Mercy and grace are what we need.

Grace is wonderful –
For sinners are saved, condemned no more.

Once a sinner, now redeemed –
A sobering and humbling scene.

Thanksgiving, a time our hearts should be stirred –
Truly giving thanks, for the grace undeserved.

Abundantly given by God –
Every day, thankful for Thanksgiving Grace.

©2018 J Clay Norton

Remember… THINK LEADERSHIP!

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