Thank you for the positive words concerning my Christmas writing. I've reached the end for this year. Merry Christma. May all your days be Merry and Bright!
Peace On Earth
December 16, 2024
It’s Christmas morning. As I sit with my coffee looking at the decorations on the tree, the peaceful feeling comes through the strongest. There is no noise from outside the house. No cars zipping by at great speeds. No noisy people talking. No rushing to get things done. Nowhere in particular to go. No loud music playing. Just a quiet that envelopes everything. You can hear the crackling of the snow in the cool breeze. The snapping of the fire warms the house. A deer slowly walks by leaving footprints in the snow. The falling snow flutters quietly to the ground creating a sense of awe in the dawning morning light. It is so serene sitting here I wish it could never end. The tranquility of the moment touches me deeply.
The tree itself holds special memories. The decorations you inherited from your Parents or Grandparents are all there. Each one has a memory of shared placement on many trees. The decoration from your great Aunt that she hand crafted and painted. To others it is nothing special, just an ugly decoration. To you it means the warmth and kindness she demonstrated on the few visits you had with her. The Christmas Star that adorned your parents tree for many years until it was deemed “Old.” It now sits on your tree as a reminder of what once was. The memories each moment reflects back to enrich your heart. The lingering emotions each Christmas brought to your life come flooding back. The great joy you felt being with your family celebrating all things special.The smell of coffee and bacon as you lived in anticipation of what was under the tree. The shrill of voices as they spied the presents around the tree. The warm knowledge that love, on this day, did conquer all.
Even this morning there is anticipation in the delighted Christmas voices. The warmth and laughter that fills the room as presents are opened. Kind words are uttered. The thoughts given to each gift choice are lovingly felt. After the opening the morning ritual of children playing and adults examining their gifts, where they are giving thought towards the possibilities that lie inherent in their gifts. The card playing and board games that ensue for the afternoon as the scent of cooking turkey fills the air. The special communications that happen today that repair torn edges and open doors that may not remain open the rest of the year. The meal where people truly are thankful for the work done in preparation for everything that has happened during the day. And then there is the after dinner rest while watching a Christmas movie. All traditions have been honoured.
I can’t help but wonder if these feelings of Christmas are what families long ago experienced daily, where their lives continued on in quiet communities, where the distractions outside their homes were minimal. They worked together. Enjoyed meals together. Talked together about things that were important. They learned the responsibilities of contributing daily to make each day important in their lives.
This Christmas morning I feel the warmth of something lost in everyday living.
That is what makes Christmas so special. It holds the hope that somehow life is better when the creature comforts we all need boil down to one thing: feeling the love and joy of living. It captures in our hearts the hope and possibilities inherent in life, reminding us that there are better ways, that there are thoughts and feelings worth living for and that if we really want them we can have them.
Peace on Earth? It all starts with that feeling on Christmas Day anything is possible.
As I sit here on Christmas morning thriving on the silence it brings I can’t help but wonder, How do we make it last?
Merry Christmas.
Thank you for all your stories. I have three or four to finish reading when this day is quiet. Merry Christmas.
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