Just a week before Christmas I had a visitor. This is how it happened. I just finished the household chores for the night and was preparing to go to bed, when I heard a noise in the front of the house. I opened the door to the front room and to my surprise, Santa himself stepped out next to the fireplace.
"What are you doing?" I started to ask. The words choked up in my throat and I saw he had tears in his eyes. His usual jolly manner was gone. Gone was the eager, boisterous soul we all know. He then answered me with a simple statement . . .
"TEACH THE CHILDREN!" I was puzzled. What did he mean? He anticipated my question and with one quick movement brought forth a miniature toy bag from behind the tree. As I stood bewildered, Santa said, "Teach the children!
Teach them the old meaning of Christmas. The meaning that now-a-days Christmas has forgotten. "Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a FIR TREE and placed it before the mantle. "Teach the children that the pure green color of the stately fir tree remains green all year round, depicting the everlasting hope of mankind, all the needles point heavenward, making it a symbol of man's thoughts turning toward heaven."
He again reached into his bag and pulled out a brilliant STAR. "Teach the children that the star was the heavenly sign of promises long ago. God promised a Savior for the world, and the star was the sign of fulfillment of His promise."
He then reached into his bag and pulled out a CANDLE. "Teach the children that the candle symbolizes that Christ is the light of the world, and when we see this great light we are reminded of He who displaces the darkness."
Once again he reached into his bag and removed a WREATH and placed it on the tree. "Teach the children that the wreath symbolizes the real nature of love. Real love never ceases. Love is one continuous round of affection."
He then pulled from his bag an ORNAMENT of himself. "Teach the children that I, Santa Claus, symbolize the generosity and good will we feel during the month of December."
He then brought out a HOLLY LEAF. "Teach the children that the holly plant represents immortality. It represents the crown of thorns worn by our Savior. The red holly berries represent the blood shed by Him.
Next he pulled from his bag a GIFT and said, "Teach the children that God so loved the world that he gave his begotten son." Thanks be to God for his unspeakable gift.
Santa then reached in his bag and pulled out a CANDY CANE and hung it on the tree. "Teach the children that the candy cane represents the shepherds' crook. The crook on the staff helps to bring back strayed sheep to the flock. The candy cane is the symbol that we are our brother's keeper."
He reached in again and pulled out an ANGEL. "Teach the children that it was the angels that heralded in the glorious news of the Savior's birth. The angels sang Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace and good will toward men."
Suddenly I heard a soft twinkling sound, and from his bag he pulled out a BELL,. "Teach the children that as the lost sheep are found by the sound of the bell, it should ring mankind to the fold. The bell symbolizes guidance and return.
Santa looked back and was pleased. He looked back at me and I saw that the twinkle was back in his eyes. He said, "Remember, teach the children the true meaning of Christmas and do not put me in the center, for I am but a humble servant of the One that is, and I bow down to worship him, our LORD, our GOD."
True Meaning of Christmas
Back pain
This factsheet is for people who have back pain or would like to know more about it.
Back pain is extremely common - about eight in ten people in the UK are affected at some time in their lives. Each year, close to five million working days are lost due to back pain.
Acute and chronic back pain
Back pain can affect anyone at any age, although people are most likely to get it between the ages of 35 and 55.
If the pain lasts for less than three months, it's called acute back pain. Acute refers to how long it's lasted for rather than how severe it is. If the problem goes on for longer, it's known as chronic back pain.
How the back worksThe spine is made up of many small bones called vertebrae. These are separated by discs, which allow the spine to bend. This structure of vertebrae and discs is supported along its length by muscles and ligaments. The spine threads through the centre of each vertebra, carrying nerves from the brain to the rest of the body.
Simple back pain
Back pain in 19 out of 20 people is linked to the way the bones, ligaments and muscles of the back work together. This is called simple back pain. The pain can begin suddenly but can also come on gradually due to strain over time. Usually nothing abnormal shows up in tests such as X-rays and nothing is permanently damaged.
Simple back pain is most common in adults aged 35 to 55 who are otherwise healthy. The pain is often in the lower back (lumbar region), and may also spread to the buttocks and thighs. It will come and go at different times, and depending on your level of activity.
Triggers for simple back pain include:
*poor posture
*standing or bending down for long periods
*sitting in a chair that doesn't provide enough back support
*lifting, carrying, pushing or pulling loads that are simply too heavy, or going
about these tasks in the wrong way
*a trip or a fall
Your spine is a very strong part of your body and is not easily damaged. If you have back pain, it's important that you stay physically active. This is good for your back because keeping active will help speed up your recovery from simple back pain. Nine out of ten people with back pain recover completely within six weeks.
Nerve root pain
Nerve root pain is rare - it's the cause in less than 1 in 20 cases of back pain. It is usually caused by one of the discs in the spine bulging out from its normal position. This is called a slipped disc.
Nerve root pain is normally felt in the lower part of the back. You may have pain down one or both of your legs to the calves, feet or toes. The pain is also called sciatica because the nerve that runs down each leg is called the sciatic nerve.
Other causes
In rare cases, there may be a more serious underlying cause of back pain, such as an abnormality of the spine, an infection or collapse of the vertebrae, tuberculosis or cancer.
These are more likely to be the case if your back pain starts gradually, gets worse over time and seems unrelated to your level of activity.
When to see a doctor
Most simple back pain only lasts a few days and gets better on its own. You should see a doctor as soon as possible if, as well as back pain, you have:
*fever
*redness or swelling on your back
*pain down your legs and below your knees
*numbness or weakness in one or both legs or around your anus
*loss of bladder or bowel control
You should also see your doctor about back pain if:
*pain is the result of an injury
*pain lasts for more than a few days in someone aged under 20 or over 55
*you have had cancer in any part of your body
*you have HIV/AIDS
*you have been prescribed steroid medicines for more than a few months
