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Thursday, December 22, 2011

Unwrapping Christmas



I posted this piece a year ago when I had few readers, so I thought it would be nice to sort of repeat myself by reposting some thoughts on the holiday. Enjoy;)

People all over the world are preparing for Christmas 2011. Holiday specials tug at the heartstrings, while citizens race to the post office, eager to mail their last minute tidings. The rich, wrapped in cashmere and Gucci, sip from crystal goblets, thankful for another successful year. The poor, cocooned in worn parkers, and hand-knit scarves, toast with tumblers of spiked eggnog; inspiring hope for an even better year.

Lighted trees sit center stage in penthouse, and row house alike, circled with a wreath of festively wrapped gifts. Stockings stretched with candy and loot send a shot of excitement to little eyes; proof positive that Santa really exists. But these are only a slice of what the season represents. Love Joy, and Peace… these are the true golden rings of the holiday.

Christmas stimulates our senses, fanning the flames of hope after a long year of indifference and struggle. Some say that Christmas brings out the hypocrites. Folks go to church that wouldn’t normally attend, and give to the poor instead of visiting the pub. But I don’t think it’s hypocritical any more than it was hypocritical for Scrooge to give Bob Cratchit a fatted goose. People are simply responding from the heart; from a place of nobility that lies buried beneath the have to’s and pressures of every day life.

Wedding songs and funeral hymns harmonize with the jingles bells in a messy world that slows for no one, reminding us that Christmas is not the absence of troubles but the presence of hope. I guess you could say that Christmas is life dressed in her Sunday best.

I'm wishing all of my readers a holiday season wrapped in love and magic. Remember that you are the gift that the world is waiting for; God's own hands come down to earth.
Love & Hugs,
Leah




26 comments:

Melissa Tandoc said...

I'm glad you reposted this Leah. Every Christmas celebration is unique depending on how I've prepared myself and how much I've accepted God in my life.

The message of hope rings so loud. I'll be sharing this on my page too :D Lots of love and Merry Christmas :*

Rimly said...

I agree with Melissa. Glad to read this Leah. Wishing you and your loved ones A Very Happy Christmas.



http://rimlybezbaruah.blogspot.com/2011/02/powerless-you-fade-away-into-distant.html

Anonymous said...

Every day...month...season and year is different. We are learning and growing every moment... A wonderful post of hope.
Thank you for sharing

Dangerous Linda said...

Hi, Leah! --

I think you've got it in a nutshell right here: "Wedding songs and funeral hymns harmonize with the jingles bells in a messy world that slows for no one, reminding us that Christmas is not the absence of troubles but the presence of hope. I guess you could say that Christmas is life dressed in her Sunday best."

Merry, Merry, MERRY CHRISTMAS, My Friend!

Thank you for all that you are! XO

Martha Jane Orlando said...

"Christmas is life dressed in her Sunday best" - just love this! Oh, that we could wear our Sunday best every day throughout the year. And, as Scrooge said, honor Christmas in our hearts.
Thank you for sharing this wonderful message!
Merry Christmas!

photos by jan said...

Lovely post true message. thank you for re-posting a message of hope.

Ms. Faustus said...

Completely offtopic with regard to this post, but I hope you won't mind :)

http://youtu.be/tkLiYIDD794

Apropos the liquifying imagery we talked about... This sensitive lady seems to have been familiar with it as well...

Love and light to you

xoxo

Leah Griffith said...

Chris, I should have brought a mop. Yeah. I see you're feeling everything right now, and thanks to this little ditty... I am too. Too good to deny.
Love,
Leah

Leah Griffith said...

Melissa, love and Merry Christmas to you too! Enjoy and listen for sleigh bells;)

AngelJane said...

'Christmas is the presence of Hope' ... Leah I'm with you on that one and rightly or wrongly I'm banking heavily on it too! I'm guessing you know my reasons for that sentence...

Happy Christmas lovely lady. :)

Leah Griffith said...

Angel, I do! I'm right there with you sister!
Merry Christmas indeed!

Leah Griffith said...

Martha, I'm really hoping to hang on to the light. This feeling is so uplifting and full of hope. Perhaps if I listen to some Christmas music once a month it will remind me that the magic is there all year long.
Merry Christmas my sweet Martha!

Leah Griffith said...

Thank you Jan. Have a joyous holiday my dear!

Leah Griffith said...

Linda, I smile whenever I see you here! You light me up;)
Merry Christmas. I look forward to getting to know you even more.
Hugs,
Leah

Leah Griffith said...

Sparkle, you are right. Every day...
May your days bring you joy, wisdom, and health.
Happy Holidays. Sending my love.

Leah Griffith said...

Thank you Rimly! Sending love and happy wishes for all good things to come your way <3

Jessica M said...

"Christmas is not the absence of troubles but the presence of hope. I guess you could say that Christmas is life dressed in her Sunday best."...What a beautiful way of expressing the reality of it all.

Loved reading your reflections.

I pray you and your family have a very merry Christmas. :)

sulekkha said...

Leah, You are a prolific writer, Love your each and every post :) My fav lines today are, Christmas is life dressed in her Sunday best.

Alpana Jaiswal said...

I enjoyed reading your post...Christmas is forever, not for just one day, for loving, sharing, giving, are not to put away like
bells and lights and tinsel, in some box upon a shelf. The good you do for others is good you
do yourself.May this Christmas be bright and cheerful and may the New Year begin on a prosperous note!Wishing you all the happiness you deserve.

Shreya said...

Remember that you are the gift that the world is waiting for; God's own hands come down to earth. - lovely words :)
Wishing you a Merry Christmas, God bless, take care. :) xx

Rachel Hoyt said...

This is a great post! Definitely worth re-posting. I'd also love if you'd link it in to my Smiley Sociology Study on Gifts.

David said...

Christmas is a magical season that brings out the best in folks and it's too bad those qualities don't continue after the holiday season. Merry Xmas to you and your loved ones!!


http://erinsdomain.blogspot.com/2011/12/this-moment-past-meets-present.html

The Poet said...

Hello Leah.
Sorry for the lateness is reading this post.
I love what you said at the end "Christmas is life dressed in her Sunday best".
Thanks for sharing.

Wishing you & your family all the best for the Holidays!

Cathy said...

A fine tribute. Love the personification of a fiesta day -- 'dressed in her Sunday best'. Wishing you and yours a sail full of wind in the direction of your dreams!

Lynne Watts said...

What a great picture of the Christmas season. How true that life marches on in this time, sometimes happy and sad in the midst of it all. Great post!

Jayne said...

"People are simply responding from the heart."

Leah, you unwrap Christmas so beautifully. Indeed, the holiday is dressed in its Sunday best--and brings out the best in us all. The magic of Christmas...

Merry Christmas to you and yours, Leah. And a very, very happy 2012 to you.

-j
xo

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