“Ring in the nobler modes of life With sweeter manner, purer laws, The larger heart, the kindlier hand…” ~ Alfred, Lord Tennyson
Good Sunday morning, beautiful friends. I do hope you had a wonderful Thanksgiving. Ours was lovely, even though it was just the two of us. It was a day in which we felt richly blessed. One which was peaceful and with way too much good food.
Like Thanksgiving, our Christmas celebrations will probably be different as well. However, I do not believe our hearts will be less open to the magic, beauty, and meaning of Christmas. Nor, less open to enjoying and receiving all the love the season holds.
“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is more beautiful.” ~ Norman Vincent Peale
Bloggers seem to have many things in common that they enjoy. Many enjoy gardening, reading, and creating beauty. I have also noticed that several of my blogging friends treasure their favorite Christmas books and read them every year. I do as well. Today, I would like to share an excerpt from a favorite of mine, “The Heart of Christmas,” written by the editors of Victoria Magazine. The excerpt is from “The Four Midwestern Sisters’ Christmas Book,” written by Holly J. Burkhalter. I do believe it will kindle a spark of Christmas in your heart.
“When we were young, Christmas morning before the presents were opened was the most delicious moment of the entire year. We were up with the birds. We prowled around the tree, poking things and guessing madly. The wait for our parents and grandparents to straggle in was unbearable, but finally they came. . .
They made us wait a little longer while Dad read the Christmas story. After all the excitement and bustle and bursting happiness of the days before Christmas, the reading of Luke’s words by the tree suspended us for a moment in time. Did we stop breathing? It seemed so. We sat very quietly. . . while the ancient words flowed over us.
“And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, the babe lying in a manger. And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds. But Mary kept all these things, and pondered them in her heart.” Luke 2:16-19
. . . For a time, after we had grown up and gone our separate spiritual ways. we substituted various readings for Luke’s words on Christmas morning. Mom read a few short stories, like “Why the Chimes Rang” and “The Little Match Girl,” and one year we each took a part and read the Christmas morning scene from Little Women. But the substitutes never really worked. We missed the Christmas story, with its words worn silky smooth from constant use, the images and ideas connecting us to Christmases in the past. Now we’re back to having Dad read the Christmas story, and as he reads, I can see us around the tree thirty-some years ago with the littlest girls sitting on Grandpa’s lap. And I can imagine that at Burkhalter Christmases many years from now, we’ll have our own grandchildren in our laps. And as the Christmas story is read, we’ll always hear it in Dad’s voice.”
Dear friends, during this busy season when time is precious, know how much I appreciate your visit. I wish you and yours a beautiful day and week ahead.
And…
May the spirit of the season fill your heart and home with love and peace. Stay well!
“This Christmas may you remember the dreams of childhood, and may you experience the wonder they once held.” ~ unknown
Joyeux Noël,
Sandra
Images: via tumblr
Wishing you peace. calm and treasured memories this Advent season, Sandra!
Thank you, Rita. And the same to you.
The joy of the Christmas season is upon us and my heart is thrilled and warmed by the good news so beautifully told in the second chapter of Luke.
Have a lovely week, Sandra my friend.
Dear Bonnie, I feel the same. Wishing you a lovely week as well.❤
Beautiful post Sandra. Wishing you a glorious holiday season.
Thanks so much, Penny. The same to you and your family.
A beautiful and inspiring post this morning Sandra. This is truly the season for looking back and looking ahead. What have we learned most about ourselves from this reflective time and what do we want to change and what traditions of the past will make next year’s life better than ever. I truly enjoy and look forward to your writings every Sunday, you have become a ritual I would not like to change. Thank you for all your caring and wonderful writing. La vie est belle❣️
Dear Louise, thank you so much for your kind and inspiring words. You are correct this is a special time of year for reflection. And what we have all been through with Covid, teaches us that we must listen to the gentle nudges of our hearts and change things we feel we must. You are a blessing, Louise. I wish you a glorious Christmas season. ❤
Such a beautiful post, Sandra, for this Christmas season! I hope this glorious time brings you joy and lots a blessings. May you have a most wonderful week ahead, sweet friend!
Thank you so much, sweet friend. Wishing you blessings this Christmas season. And days full of joy.❤
Beautiful post, Sandra. As we were putting out our Christmas decorations, I was pondering why it is that I feel extra exited and happier between Halloween and Christmas. I believe it’s all the memories of family and friends telling stories and laughing about remembered events we shared…and, of course, all the great food. Everyone seems kinder and more giving of themselves at Christmas (perhaps because they, too, are recalling their happy memories of seasons past). Hope just seems to fill the air, but hope needs work to become a reality. Let us all put forth the effort to make this the world we so hope for. Wishing you and yours all the joys of this very special time of year, dear heart. Hugs!
Bobbi, your comments are beautiful and so true. I do believe in the ‘ripple effect,’ and that is one reason I began my blog. If we each throw a kind and loving stone – just imagine the difference. Wishing you a glorious season. May your days go slow, so that you can savor all the moments. Wishing you a lovely and peaceful day and week ahead, dear friend. ❤❤
What sweet and beautiful post! Adorable pictures!Made me smile…Hugs,dear Sandra!
Thank you Maristella. I am happy you enjoyed them. Have a lovely week, sweet friend. ❤
Sandra, I read your post early this morning and came back to comment. Luke’s account of the birth of Jesus is always fresh and filled with hope. No other Christmas story will ever convey the greatest love that has ever been known! Thank you for this most beautiful post. Wishing you a blessed Christmas season my friend ♥️
Thank you, Pam. I share your thoughts about the Christmas Story. Wishing you a beautiful and blessed season. Enjoy those baby girls. ❤❤
Sandra, your beautiful post certainly sets the tone for the season ahead. I love these words you shared, “I do not believe our hearts will be less open to the magic, beauty, and meaning of Christmas. Nor, less open to enjoying and receiving all the love the season holds.” And I so appreciated the excerpt from “The Heart of Christmas”. The reading of the Christmas Story from Luke 2 is one of my favourite things of Christmas. Those old lines, so familiar and beloved, ever continue to give joy and comfort and hope…. I’m so glad you shared them here with us today.
Wishing you a beautiful month ahead,
Brenda xo
Dear Brenda, your words mean more than you can imagine. Wishing you and your family a beautiful month as well. The beauty and goodness of others have certainly helped to make life easier during this past year and I know it will at Christmas also. Stay well.
My dear friend, how endearing is your publication today! … Times that make us remember when we were girls and these parties were wonderful events full of joy, surprises and much love …
The DAY OF THANKSGIVING has always seemed very beautiful to me, too bad there is no such celebration in Spain, we still have Christmas and Three Kings Day, which are also very magical and exciting.
a big hug
Dolores, I know you would love and enjoy a Thanksgiving Celebration. I do love to read Christmas stories of times past. They always bring some sort of wonderful memory. Wishing you a beautiful Christmas season and I do hope this finds your arm doing much better. I know when it is healed that will be a most special Christmas gift.
Have a beautiful month, sweet friend, and stay well! ❤