DEAR JOHN: UNIQUE LOOK AT TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Dec. 14, Dear John: I answered the door today and the postman gave me a partridge in a pear tree. What a delightful gift. I couldn't have been more surprised.
With deepest love and affection. Agnes.

Dec. 15, Dear John: Again today the Postman brought me a beautiful gift from you, just imagine, two turtle doves. I'm delighted. They're absolutely adorable.
All my love, Agnes .

Dec. 16, Dear John: Aren't you the extravagant one! Now I really must protest, l don't, deserve such generosity. Three French Hens -- they're darling. but I must insist; you've been too kind.
Love, Agnes.

Dec. 17, Dear John: Today the Postman delivered four calling birds. Now really, they're beautiful, but don't you think enough is enough? You're being too romantic.
Affectionately, Agnes

Dec. 18, Dear John: What a surprise! Today the Postman brought, me five golden rings, one for each finger. You're just impossible, but I love it. Frankly, those birds are beginning to get on my nerves.
All my love, Agnes

Dec. 19, Dear John: When I opened my door this morning there were six geese a-laying on my front steps. So you're back to the birds again, huh? These geese are huge. Where will I keep them? The neighbors are complaining about the noise and the smell and I can't .sleep a wink.-Please stop.
Cordially, Agnes

Dec. 20, Dear John: What's with you and these blasted birds? Now it's seven swans a-swimming. What kind of lousy joke is this? Bird droppings are all over the house, I can't sleep. It's not funny any longer, so stop it immediately.
Sincerely, Agnes.

Dec. 21, OK, Buster: What am I going to do with eight maids a-milking? I prefer the birds. It's not enough with all those birds and maids; they had to bring their cows with them. The lawn is a mess. You have to be careful where you step. The house is a mess. I'm warning you -- lay off.!
Agnes.

Dec. 22, Hey, Jerk: What. are you? Some kind of a sadist? Today there's nine pipers playing. All they do is chase the maids. The cows are upset and are stepping on those screeching birds. What am I going to do? The neighbors have started eviction proceedings against me. You'll get yours,
Agnes.

Dec. 23, You rotten knucklehead: Now there's 10 ladies dancing! Those hussies dance with the pipers all night long, the cows have diarrhea. The Board of Health is threatening to condemn the place. I've had it, you stupid blockhead I'm sicking the police on you. One who means it,
Agnes.

Dec. 24, Listen, you goon: What's with the 11 lords-a-leaping? And those maids and ladies? All 23 of the birds are dead,
trampled to death in the ruckus. I hope you're satisfied, you rotten vicious goon. Your sworn enemy,
Agnes

Dec. 25, Dear Sir: This is to acknowledge your latest gift of 12 fiddlers fiddling, which you have seen fit to inflict on my
client. Miss McMurtee's destruction was, of course, total, and she is now at Happydale Sanitarium where attendants have instructions to shoot you on sight. Enclosed please find a warrant for your arrest
Yours truly, G. F. Bailey,
Attorney at Law.

What in the world do leaping lords, French hens, swimming swans, and especially that partridge that won't come out of the pear tree have to do with Christmas?

From 1558 until 1829, Roman Catholics in England were not allowed to practice their faith openly. Someone during that era wrote this carol as a catechism song for young Catholics. It has two levels of meaning; the surface meaning, plus a hidden meaning known only to members of their church. Each element in the carol has a code word for a religious reality, which the children could remember.

The partridge in a pear tree was Jesus Christ.

Two turtle doves were the Old and New Testaments.
Three French hens stood for faith, hope and love.
The four calling birds were the four gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John.
The Five golden rings recalled the Torah or Law, the first five books of the Old Testament.
The six geese a-laying stood for the six days of creation.
Seven swans a-swimming represented the sevenfold gifts of the Holy Spirit; Prophesy, Serving, Teaching, Exhortation, Contribution, Leadership, and Mercy.
The eight maids a-milking were the eight beatitudes.
Nine ladies dancing were the nine fruits of the Holy Spirit: Love, Joy, Peace, Patience, Kindness, Goodness, Faithfulness, Gentleness, Self-control.
The ten lords a-leaping were the Ten Commandments.
Eleven pipers piping stood for the eleven faithful disciples.
Twelve drummers drumming symbolized the twelve points of belief in the Apostles' Creed.

In His Steps Ministries
http://www.inhisstepsministries.org