Changes

You are [[blessed]] with [[friends]] wherever you go. People like and admire you, [[thinking]] that there is some glamour to your life, not [[understanding]] that what they see is the outworking of simple, [[fundamental]] [[happiness]]. As a girl, you never [[dreamed]] that such [[happiness]] and tranquility were [[attainable]]. It is somewhat unfortunate that your later [[childhood]] was subject to much disharmonious [[effect]], but the good benefit was that you [[learned]] to [[value]] the [[genuine]], the rugged, the [[honest]], and the [[simple]]. Eric too has lived through this [[experience]]. It is not always pleasant, but the result is good.

You are [[blessed]] with [[friends]] wherever you go. People like and admire you, [[thinking]] that there is some glamour to your life, not [[understanding]] that what they see is the outworking of simple, [[fundamental]] [[happiness]]. As a girl, you never [[dreamed]] that such [[happiness]] and tranquility were [[attainable]]. It is somewhat unfortunate that your later [[childhood]] was subject to much disharmonious [[effect]], but the good benefit was that you [[learned]] to [[value]] the [[genuine]], the rugged, the [[honest]], and the [[simple]]. Eric too has lived through this [[experience]]. It is not always pleasant, but the result is good.

 

You are fortunate that you have found such a [[steadfast]], reliable [[Husband|mate]]. Your [[character]] traits are truly [[complementary]], and it is a [[union]] to which we see no threats, internal or external. If you look back on the [[developments]] in your [[marriage]], you will quickly see that at a certain [[point]] you put aside your long- cherished [[doubts]] -- doubts that you had nurtured so long in life that you [[thought]] they were integral to the very center of yourself. Now it can be seen that they were not [[central]], in fact they were [[peripheral]], even silly. And having jettisoned these non-productive [[feelings]], you were immediately swallowed by the [[whole]], unqualified [[love]] which you had always held in reserve. It is unusual to see such an unconditional, wholehearted [[love]] [[expressed]] on your [[planet]]. Although such an [[event]] was relatively common in [[past]] [[societies]] on your world, the [[modern]] situation works more toward [[selfishness]] and immediate [[gratification]] of individual [[desires]].

You are fortunate that you have found such a [[steadfast]], reliable [[Husband|mate]]. Your [[character]] traits are truly [[complementary]], and it is a [[union]] to which we see no threats, internal or external. If you look back on the [[developments]] in your [[marriage]], you will quickly see that at a certain [[point]] you put aside your long- cherished [[doubts]] -- doubts that you had nurtured so long in life that you [[thought]] they were integral to the very center of yourself. Now it can be seen that they were not [[central]], in fact they were [[peripheral]], even silly. And having jettisoned these non-productive [[feelings]], you were immediately swallowed by the [[whole]], unqualified [[love]] which you had always held in reserve. It is unusual to see such an unconditional, wholehearted [[love]] [[expressed]] on your [[planet]]. Although such an [[event]] was relatively common in [[past]] [[societies]] on your world, the [[modern]] situation works more toward [[selfishness]] and immediate [[gratification]] of individual [[desires]].

 

This [[effects]] a retarded -- even [[regressive]] -- circumstance more often seen in the [[Paper 62 - The Dawn Races of Early Man|pre-human era]] of your [[races]], where [[selfishness]] worked to ensure the [[survival]] of the creature to [[reproductive]] maturity. It is with dismay that we have watched the [[retrogressive]] development of the [[selfishness]] tendency in the [[modern]] cultures. It is clearly, logically counterproductive, yet it is common to all [[cultures]], most especially the materially enriched [[societies]]. It is a [[failure]] of not knowing how to use the benefits of [[success]]. Not being possible to dampen the [[vitality]] and aggressiveness of the [[modern]] peoples, much negative precedent is now in place that must be corrected. The [[modern]] peoples cannot be led. They are too [[independent]]-minded, and that is a good [[development]] that will serve them well in their [[universe careers]]. They must, rather, be [[guided]] to a higher [[vision]] of the products engendered by the [[efforts]] of life.

This [[effects]] a retarded -- even [[regressive]] -- circumstance more often seen in the [[Paper 62 - The Dawn Races of Early Man|pre-human era]] of your [[races]], where [[selfishness]] worked to ensure the [[survival]] of the creature to [[reproductive]] maturity. It is with dismay that we have watched the [[retrogressive]] development of the [[selfishness]] tendency in the [[modern]] cultures. It is clearly, logically counterproductive, yet it is common to all [[cultures]], most especially the materially enriched [[societies]]. It is a [[failure]] of not knowing how to use the benefits of [[success]]. Not being possible to dampen the [[vitality]] and aggressiveness of the [[modern]] peoples, much negative precedent is now in place that must be corrected. The [[modern]] peoples cannot be led. They are too [[independent]]-minded, and that is a good [[development]] that will serve them well in their [[universe careers]]. They must, rather, be [[guided]] to a higher [[vision]] of the products engendered by the [[efforts]] of life.

 

A return to the pre-eminence of the [[family]] is the prescription for continued [[progress]]. But by this we do not mean to go backward in either time or [[intention]], for the [[glorious]] days are in the [[future]], not in the [[past]]. Although we [[wish]] to see the [[structure]] of the past [[family]] re-instated on your world, we do not wish to redevelop the [[social]] [[milieu]] of centuries past. We wish to incorporate the [[strength]] of the [[family]] -- the primary building block of [[society]] and essential [[school]] of all [[mankind]] -- with the upward-looking spirit-guided love of brother and sister, in order to forge a type of [[family]] which has never existed on your [[planet]]. We wish to forge a [[family]] relation which will lead your [[planet]] directly into the ages of [[light and life]], the [[ultimate]] in [[social]] [[development]] and the living embodiment of the [[divine]] [[plan]].

A return to the pre-eminence of the [[family]] is the prescription for continued [[progress]]. But by this we do not mean to go backward in either time or [[intention]], for the [[glorious]] days are in the [[future]], not in the [[past]]. Although we [[wish]] to see the [[structure]] of the past [[family]] re-instated on your world, we do not wish to redevelop the [[social]] [[milieu]] of centuries past. We wish to incorporate the [[strength]] of the [[family]] -- the primary building block of [[society]] and essential [[school]] of all [[mankind]] -- with the upward-looking spirit-guided love of brother and sister, in order to forge a type of [[family]] which has never existed on your [[planet]]. We wish to forge a [[family]] relation which will lead your [[planet]] directly into the ages of [[light and life]], the [[ultimate]] in [[social]] [[development]] and the living embodiment of the [[divine]] [[plan]].

Their early [[Sexual Intercourse|matings]] were [[vigorous]], but [[tender]], and though their [[sex]] activity lessened in [[time]], it remained as gratifying throughout. Mary, particularly, yearned for a child from the [[moment]] she left her [[parents]]' [[home]]. Her life had been filled throughout with children, and she truly was unfulfilled without child noises and demands, [[tears]], [[laughter]], and the myriad [[joys]] associated with the [[companionship]] of the small ones. Notwithstanding her [[love]] for Joseph, Mary desperately wanted an infant to hold against her breasts, skin to skin, and to sing and rock to [[sleep]].

Their early [[Sexual Intercourse|matings]] were [[vigorous]], but [[tender]], and though their [[sex]] activity lessened in [[time]], it remained as gratifying throughout. Mary, particularly, yearned for a child from the [[moment]] she left her [[parents]]' [[home]]. Her life had been filled throughout with children, and she truly was unfulfilled without child noises and demands, [[tears]], [[laughter]], and the myriad [[joys]] associated with the [[companionship]] of the small ones. Notwithstanding her [[love]] for Joseph, Mary desperately wanted an infant to hold against her breasts, skin to skin, and to sing and rock to [[sleep]].

 

So when she felt the first [[intuitions]] that the child had been [[conceived]], her [[heart]] leapt with joy. It was not until later that she [[remembered]] the [[122:3|visit of Gabriel]], which she had put out of her [[mind]] for some time. In fact, while [[Jesus|Joshua]] was a babe, she thought little about any role he might play in the [[future]], for although the term "child of [[destiny]]" was meaningful to her, her child was just like any other, only as dear as life itself. Throughout all the [[dramatic]] events of the boy's [[infancy]], Mary spent her free time showering the babe with [[love]], watching him in his [[sleep]], playing with him, [[reading]] and telling [[stories]] from [[memory]]. She used to take him out onto the rooftop of their Egyptian apartment and show him the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_sky night sky] [[stars]] -- offer him to the stars -- and [[describe]] for him the constellations, telling him how they would look in the nighttime sky over their [[Palestine]] [[home]].

So when she felt the first [[intuitions]] that the child had been [[conceived]], her [[heart]] leapt with joy. It was not until later that she [[remembered]] the [[122:3|visit of Gabriel]], which she had put out of her [[mind]] for some time. In fact, while [[Jesus|Joshua]] was a babe, she thought little about any role he might play in the [[future]], for although the term "child of [[destiny]]" was meaningful to her, her child was just like any other, only as dear as life itself. Throughout all the [[dramatic]] events of the boy's [[infancy]], Mary spent her free time showering the babe with [[love]], watching him in his [[sleep]], playing with him, [[reading]] and telling [[stories]] from [[memory]]. She used to take him out onto the rooftop of their Egyptian apartment and show him the [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_sky night sky] [[stars]] -- offer him to the stars -- and [[describe]] for him the constellations, telling him how they would look in the nighttime sky over their [[Palestine]] [[home]].

I [[hope]] you have enjoyed these [[words]]. They are my [[gift]] to you on the celebration of [[Jesus]]'s [[birth]]. You should know that we look upon you with [[love]] and approval. We have been watching you for years and generally like what we see. There are many [[parallels]] between your [[family]] and the historic [[family]] of [[Jesus]]. I have tried to [[illuminate]] some of them for you, even things not [[discussed]] in [[Urantia Book]]. We are [[gratified]] to see the depth of [[commitment]] which you and Eric openly [[express]] toward each other and we [[expect]] you to provide a loving springboard for your Jade to launch herself onto the world scene, next for her to take up the work which you have so recently and ably begun.

I [[hope]] you have enjoyed these [[words]]. They are my [[gift]] to you on the celebration of [[Jesus]]'s [[birth]]. You should know that we look upon you with [[love]] and approval. We have been watching you for years and generally like what we see. There are many [[parallels]] between your [[family]] and the historic [[family]] of [[Jesus]]. I have tried to [[illuminate]] some of them for you, even things not [[discussed]] in [[Urantia Book]]. We are [[gratified]] to see the depth of [[commitment]] which you and Eric openly [[express]] toward each other and we [[expect]] you to provide a loving springboard for your Jade to launch herself onto the world scene, next for her to take up the work which you have so recently and ably begun.

===Closing===

===Closing===

The [[future]] is bright -- even brilliant -- for you all, and the company could not be better. [[God]] bless you and keep you, your [[happy]] [[family]] and [[friends]]. Merry [[Christmas]].

The [[future]] is bright -- even brilliant -- for you all, and the company could not be better. [[God]] bless you and keep you, your [[happy]] [[family]] and [[friends]]. Merry [[Christmas]].