Through the Eyes of a Child

Oh holy night!

The stars are brightly shining

It is the night of the dear

Savior's birth!

Long lay the world in sin and error pining

Till he appear'd and the Soul  

felt its worth...

When I was growing up, Christmas Eve was a magical time filled with awe, reverence, family, & Love.

I have memories of wrapping canned foods, toys, socks, and toiletries in white tissue paper and then taking seriously, my job of  insuring the scotch tape held.  Together with other families, we laid these gifts at the nativity scene, which was reenacted by some of our friends while the church choir sang "O holy night!

I loved seeing Mary and Joseph, dressed in sheets, kneeling over baby Jesus.  The year we had a real donkey was especially exciting for me.

It was a special time because our family was together.

I remember sensing a seriousness in the joy and the celebration of attending candlelight service together. We sat together in the dimly lit church, listening to the Christmas story, singing carols from memory and passing the "light of the world".

I knew I was part of something grand and wonderful!

Even as a young child, I envisioned a global sharing of this Peace, Love and Light. The quiet and serenity of Silent Night cradled the world.

Children have a way of keeping life real.  For these natural sensory receptors, Christmas is an experiential event of innocence and wonder. Humbled in their youthful focus and unlimited imagination, children easily receive Christmas.

A child isn't burdened by the weight of daily responsibilities, haunted by replaying past memories, or obsessing how a future event might turn out. Children don't focus on how everyone else might be feeling or whether or not they "have done enough" to warrant participation.

Jesus taught us that we are all God's children. Each of us, by nature, is a part of God and all that God is.... Babies bring to us the essence and promise of Life; our connection and relationship to God's infinite Peace, Joy and Love.

I am reminded of a story about a little boy whose family was blessed with a baby girl.  Several times a day this big brother would stand quietly at the side of her crib, focused intently on his sister, as if listening.

One time while watching from behind the door, his parents overheard him whisper, 

"Please sister, tell me again about God. I am starting to forget and I want to remember." 

In your rituals and celebration this Christmas, 

May your hearts and your homes be filled with Love, 

And on this holy night,

May you know the magic and true Spirit of Christmas, 

as seen through the eyes of a child...

Now is the Best Time!

"If you are wondering when is the best time to make a change in your Life, remind yourself - any NOW will do."  

~ Robert Holden, Shift Happens!
 

As December makes its way toward Christmas and the celebration of our savior's birth; many hearts will soften and pause in reflection.  Some will renew their resolve to be more loving, to forgive more readily and to live with greater tolerance and compassion.

And some of us begin to review the ending of another year. We assess our success or analyze where we believe we have fallen short in some way.  

This is also a time for going within, for hibernation, for Winters rest.

Settling into contemplation, we rekindle that inner dialogue with ourselves.

This experience may be uncomfortable for those who have been complacent.  The general direction of this conversation can be more revealing than we're ready for!  

Still, it is in these times of introspection where we receive our gifts of clarity and direction. Our bold message challenges us to wake up, to heed its truth, to make new choices and to take responsible action!

So just for today, I invite you to consider:  

What habit or behavior are you ready to let go of? 

What is it that you want more of  in your Life?

What have you been ignoring or running away from?

What could you do differently to Celebrate your Life?

And when you show up next year. . .Who do you want to be?

Holiday Breakthrough

"Your pain is the breaking of the shell that encloses your understanding.

~Kahlil Gibran, The Prophet      

As the holiday season rolls around, some of us lose the balance we have in our daily lives, and instead, dive full blown into feeding our egos.  Our focus can become distorted and our familiar structures and routines literally disappear.  Stretched in overwhelm, we can spend our energy trying to look good, do enough, chase perfectionism or seek approval. We can lose ourselves in the creating of our holiday production!

This is a recent attitude shift for me regarding the Christmas season. It stems from personal loss and my own profound grief.  Expressing this truth prompts me either to hide or to "lighten up" as societal pressures whisper, I shouldn't feel this way. Yet, my perception has changed and my life filters are dramatically different.

I have a new found understanding and appreciation for many whose holiday experiences and memories aren't so full of joy and abundance.

This can be a dark time of year.  Not just in earth's night but in the hearts of those who suffer.  Today there exists great anger, unrest and destruction ~ dramatically born from pain, loss, and confusion.  Our world and the speed in which we live, greatly challenges us to commit to a higher calling. 

What if we surrender our blinders?  What if we allow our sacrifice and experience to transcend judgment and limitation?  Could we breakthrough our own pain to emerge with compassion and love for others?  And could we make a conscious choice to trust our light to our brothers and sisters?

After all , isn't that what Jesus came to show us?

Gratitude for You

At times our own light goes out 

and is rekindled by a spark 

from another person. 

Each of us has cause to think with 

deep gratitude of those who have lighted 

the flame within us. 

~ Albert Schweitzer

I especially like this quote from Albert Schweitzer. It reminds me of the immeasurable influence and power each of us has to lift another. Weeks prior to Thanksgiving, I was focused on past memories and lost in the emptiness without my parents.  I felt swallowed in grief and in longing for my familiar.

Yet everywhere I turned was someone ready to support me, remind me of the truth, or to share their light and love with me in the moment. 

Whether it was a patient ear, an empathetic message, or a loving hug, I sensed a constant energy holding me up and reminding me that life is good.  

I have so much to be grateful for ~ past, Present, and future!

Today I Celebrate my gratitude for you ~ my friends and family. 

Thank you for "being the spark" that reignites my heart, again and again. 

BE - Your Gratitude

"Thankfulness is the beginning of gratitude. 

Gratitude is the completion of thankfulness. 

Thankfulness may consist merely of words. 

Gratitude is shown in acts." 

~Henry F. Amiel

As most of us jump into the business of Thanksgiving, we might forget to show up for the meaning of this holiday. The busy-ness of shopping, preparing, scheduling, or traveling could dictate our actions while expectation and emotion might dominant our thoughts.

In this next week, let us consciously demonstrate our gratitude by being present, slowing ourselves down, and actively listening to others.

May we participate in "acts of thanks~giving" by honestly expressing our acknowledgement, Gratitude, and Love.