Blessings of the Season

Blessings of the Season

 Cynthia Taylor Clark

Glittering houses, crisp cold air, warm ovens cooking,

 sweet smelling fir trees, colored lights twinkling.

 List making, ribbon tying, presents hiding, mothers humming,

 choirs singing, bells in distance ringing.

 Snow coming, boots crunching, shinning starry nights,

 memories cherished, making new ones.

 Oh how senses come alive!

 Joyous planning, sharing feasts, family toasting,

 Fires bright for cozy nights, tucked in bed, children dreaming,

 loving gifts, hugs to share, blessing wishes each new year.

 Laughter echoes, stockings tiptoe, early rises sneak below,

 all the trimmings, such delight, pure abundance all aglow.

 Tis the Season, Merry Christmas!

 Just the feelings, heartlight grows!

                                                   

                                                   

                     Creating Magic & Balance              

Today I gave myself the gift of stretching and Yoga with the sun shinning through the skylights. Only 11 degrees upon rising. After painting yesterday, I feel the innocence of my inner child feeling the lightness of the holiday approaching. As I felt guided to turn on PBS, I was delighted to find a travel show about Christmas in Germany. The many outdoor markets in the beautiful villages of old filled with decorated booths of traditional wooden and glass ornaments, and their many tempting foods and treats. It was like walking through one of their sweet advent calendars that I have collected over the years. I have enjoyed this tradition with my twin daughters since they were 3 yrs old. Opening a window each day, to reveal an animal or toy as we counted down the days till St. Nicholas came, and the baby was laid in the manger.

        Can we keep the magic of the season alive with all the distractions?

 I must say that the feelings I carry about my own childhood and that of my own children bring that precious twinkle of Joy to my heart. But now I have to decide how to create more of that Joy within myself, since I do not have little ones around to remind me. Christmas is a delight to behold, even with the way too many cues to shop until you drop. I love to see the decorations and the little children's faces bundled in their snow suits and boots dreaming their Christmas dreams.

My prayers for all of us this season are for more awareness in the moments of celebration and being kind to each other. We need a little more patience as we go about the hustle and bustle of preparing for the big day. Let the theme of counting each day special begin with your own traditions. Let love and appreciation activate your heart center in making decisions of how much to do. We do not need to be in overwhelm. But we can make an intention to chose those things that make the heart sing, things that remind us of the memories that we are creating. And so that we may be a blessing to ourselves as well as to our family and community.