Father Ted and Family, Christmas 1998
Father Ted wrote from his experience and heart. His articles, poems and books will take you on adventures of laughter, tears, suspense and introspection.
Here are just two pieces written by Father Ted a number of years ago, yet the messages are timeless!
Just Give Her Love
by Father Ted Berndt
At Christmas when you have a son,
You can treat him like a pal,
Give him things like a bike for fun;
But what do you buy for a gal?
...especially when she's only three months old?
A boy is a miniature of his dad.
It builds up your morale
to give him "things you never had."
But what do you give a gal?
...why you just give her love!
It's easy when your love is new
to find a Christmas gift for "Sal."
Almost anything that's nice will do.
But what do you buy for this gal...
...when you've been married 50 years?
In the winter of your years
What's big enough for your "lifetime pal"
who's shared your broken dreams and tears?
What do you give this gal?
...why you just give her love!
Who Is Santa Claus? 
by Father Ted Berndt
You can't answer that question with a name. In fact, you'll find that it's not easy to describe Santa Claus.
For instance, we all know he's a short, round sort of old gentleman - yet his spirit is so tall it soars out of sight beyond the stars. And he's been around for hundreds of years, his beard and hair are snow white - but he's the delight of children everywhere and he belongs to them.
The North Pole is supposed to be his home. But, he lives in ranch style homes, in trailers, in "walk-up" flats, in smart apartments, in boarding houses, and in mansions. And he's spent many a night in "fox-holes" too, from Guadalcanal to Normandy to Korea and Viet Nam.
We say that he visits us at Christmas time. And yet, if we would look around, we'd find that he is with us all year round.
Because, you see, Santa Claus is hope and courage and vision and self sacrifice - all rolled up into one delightful personification. His job is bigger than making children happy at Christmas time. He walks with those who dare to dream the big, bold dream. And he is no stranger to this land of ours. He helped to build it.
You wouldn't have recongnized him that awful winter at Valley Forge. He was lean and gaunt as he stood in the shadow of the sentry fires. You might have walked right by him years later on a train to Gettysburg. But he was sitting there - next to a man named Lincoln, watching him write immortal words,..."that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom...and that the government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth."
And when Johnny Appleseed scattered the seeds of fruit and shade across the land, Santa Claus walked beside him. Who do you think handed tools to young Henry Ford? And when Orville Wright soared into the air at Kitty Hawk, do you think Santa would have missed that? No, Santa was there, smiling...waving.
How can all this be?
Because Santa Claus is the spirit of giving. Wherever this desire to give exists (whether it be gifts, physical effort, mental genius, ideas or love) there also Santa Claus appears.
How long will Santa live? As long as his spirit - born in a stable in Bethlehem - lives in the hearts of men, women and children.
As long as we continue to listen for footsteps on the rooftops -
he'll be there.
You're Invited to listen to"A Soldier's Silent Night"_oval.jpg)