To keep Christmas, I'll wager you must make it your own through kindness of spirit. I find this peace in the traditions we follow each season.
In a recent New York Times article, Op-Ed columnist Maureen Dowd wrote about her memories of the holiday and this lesson she learned from her mother. She wrote, "…the lesson was lovely: that materialism and narcissism can only smother life — and Christmas — if you let them."
Ms. Dowd went on to mention Caroline Kennedy and a piece reprinted in her Christmas anthology.... Henry van Dyke writes: “Are you willing ... to own, that probably the only good reason for your existence is not what you are going to get out of life, but what you are going to give to life; to close your book of complaints against the management of the universe and look around you for a place where you can sow a few seeds of happiness ... to make a grave for your ugly thoughts and a garden for your kindly feelings ...? Then you can keep Christmas."
I agree that this gift of grace is one you must find for yourself and hold tightly in the fray.
We keep Christmas and good cheer with a decades old tradition. Since the 197os the O'Connor family has begun the 12 days of Christmas in song and celebration in downtown Warwick...
Here we are on our way to the annual "Community Sing" hosted each Christmas Eve at 5pm. We gather... family, friends and some folks we only recognize from this annual event...
(do you recognize the building previous posts and the Village's Halloween Parade...
(do you recognize the building previous posts and the Village's Halloween Parade...
The brothers Metzger and O'Connor wait in the chill...
...here's our view of the gathering crowds below...we sit in the upstairs loft on the right...just as my husband has done since he was a boy.
Darkness has fallen and with it a hush ...
..here Susie asks us to join her in song from the pulpit...most years she forgets the words... but we cheer her on and love every minute in her gentle demeanor...
And so I ask you, please keep Christmas close. And enjoy your traditions, the old and the new, they are the gift of the season.
xxoo Jen
1 comment:
how inspiring the words are and how true. i will write them down and put them in my special spot so i can look at them often... i hope you had a beautiful christmas and i know 2008 is going to be great...
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