Lazily climbing out of bed to start the day, I feel the heartbeat of the holiday season upon me. Holiday tasks await-one week left to decorate the house, wrap the gifts, and pack the bags for a family holiday in Virginia. It is the time of year to share love and kindness to one and all.
With holiday crunch time upon me, so like a Christmas elf, I dust off the boxes of time gone by and start the business of spreading the spirit of the holidays throughout my house. But for a moment, I pause to ponder the meaning of "giving". As I carefully unwrap the decorations from my Christmas bins, I remember holidays past. Hopes, sorrows-family gathering memories tumble out from the boxes of wrapped treasures. Endless thoughts spinning as the CD turntable makes its way through holiday songs. One holiday, in particular, comes to mind-the year I spent the Christmas holiday in isolation at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital, exhausted from four months of intense chemo treatments. In the midst of sadness, I found joy and kindness flowing. Even housekeeping knew what to say to brighten a day. A lesson was learned that year. Life is fragile and uncertain. Family love becomes a strength in challenging times. Hope reigns. With those thoughts in mind and gratitude in my heart, I return to decorating the tree as a tribute to all that is blessed and joyful during the holidays.
There is undeniable magic in the air during the days before Christmas. I stack the Christmas cards from friends near and far in a Santa mail carrier and gather twitter greetings across my screen. Next, I wrap the gifts for our church's underprivileged in hopes that my packages will bring joy to those families and light the house with luminesce glow as a precursor to the Light of the World soon to enter.
With holiday crunch time upon me, so like a Christmas elf, I dust off the boxes of time gone by and start the business of spreading the spirit of the holidays throughout my house. But for a moment, I pause to ponder the meaning of "giving". As I carefully unwrap the decorations from my Christmas bins, I remember holidays past. Hopes, sorrows-family gathering memories tumble out from the boxes of wrapped treasures. Endless thoughts spinning as the CD turntable makes its way through holiday songs. One holiday, in particular, comes to mind-the year I spent the Christmas holiday in isolation at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Hospital, exhausted from four months of intense chemo treatments. In the midst of sadness, I found joy and kindness flowing. Even housekeeping knew what to say to brighten a day. A lesson was learned that year. Life is fragile and uncertain. Family love becomes a strength in challenging times. Hope reigns. With those thoughts in mind and gratitude in my heart, I return to decorating the tree as a tribute to all that is blessed and joyful during the holidays.
There is undeniable magic in the air during the days before Christmas. I stack the Christmas cards from friends near and far in a Santa mail carrier and gather twitter greetings across my screen. Next, I wrap the gifts for our church's underprivileged in hopes that my packages will bring joy to those families and light the house with luminesce glow as a precursor to the Light of the World soon to enter.
Holiday magic.
What does it mean?
Can wishes be wrapped
in dreams unseen?
This year, the holidays are filled with a sense of expectancy as:
the world waits for a new decade
and the family waits for a second grandchild.
May there be a special light to brighten your world.
⭐⭐⭐
I send a special greeting and gifts of light and hope to all friends and slicers who write with heart at Two Writing Teachers. May your holidays be filled with joy.
What does it mean?
Can wishes be wrapped
in dreams unseen?
This year, the holidays are filled with a sense of expectancy as:
the world waits for a new decade
and the family waits for a second grandchild.
May there be a special light to brighten your world.
⭐⭐⭐
I send a special greeting and gifts of light and hope to all friends and slicers who write with heart at Two Writing Teachers. May your holidays be filled with joy.
There is always such great joy and expectations during this holiday season. It is a shame it is not carried throughout the rest of the year as well. Merry Christmas to you and your family.
ReplyDeleteMerry Christmas to you also. We can only hope that the new decade brings peace and a touch of the true spirit of humanity to all.
DeleteDear Carol,
ReplyDeleteYour words are a beautiful gift. I wish you and your family love and joy during this magical holiday season.
Hugs,
Terje
Terje, thank you for your good wishes for a magical holiday season. I wish we can have a cup of tea together, if not for real then a virtual one and a friendly chat.
DeleteOne of the best parts of Christmas, for me, is the way those memories wash over me as I unpack decorations. Love your description of lessons learned - " Life is fragile and uncertain. Family love becomes a strength in challenging times. Hope reigns." So beautiful.
ReplyDeleteI just love to rekindle my relationship with my holiday memories each year as I unwrap each ornament or decoration. When Christmases start blending together it is the tangible objects that provide insight into life. Thanks for stopping by, Maureen.
DeleteThis is such a beautiful slice, Carol. These indeed are words to remember: "Life is fragile and uncertain. Family love becomes a strength in challenging times. Hope reigns." I wish you much joy this holiday season.
ReplyDeleteHappiness wishes are being sent back to you, Molly, and hopefully, sweet dreams not nightmares of your early morning experience.
DeleteWhat a delight to read your musings this morning. Your words "holiday crunch time" remind me that it's time to quit reading and commenting & get three packages ready for the mail before I head over to spend the day with two of my grand boys. Merry Christmas, Carol! Enjoy every moment in Virginia. We'll have all three grand boys here this year. And we're expecting a grand daughter in May!
ReplyDeleteWhat wonderful news, Ramona! Who gets the sister? happy Holidays, my friend.
Delete