Creative Commons/Public Domain
Christmas has always been a holiday I loved to celebrate. The lovely decorations – Christmas trees with twinkle lights and coloured glass ornaments, garlands festooned with pine cones and velvet ribbon, a hand-crafted nativity scene and lots of candles on the mantle. The lavish meal – rich foods, carol singing, traditional sweets. The gifts – toys for children, a bottle of wine for adults. Enjoying it all with family, gathered together in a cozy home on a cold wintry night.
But it’s the build-up to the holiday that gets me down. Rushing to get things finished at work, to be free to enjoy a few days off. Shopping for groceries and for the gifts on my list. Cleaning the house, decorating and arranging everything. It’s a stressful time for many people.
I take moments here and there to contemplate the baby in a manger who is at the centre of this story, and whose humble birth and modest life impacted the whole world. Reflecting on the bittersweet reality of that One Solitary Life. http://www.changinglivesonline.org/item-by-category/articles/item/363-one-solitary-life.html
The greatest gift ever given, presented first to the poor common lowly citizens of the day, shepherds, as they watched their flocks by night. They brought open hearts, praising lips and true worship. The littlest one brought music http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qJ_MGWio-vc
I too will bring the only gift I have to offer – my life, my life, my all.
verawrites 
It is very nice at this time to share the true meaning of Christmas. These days, the festival is too commercialized so we need to constantly remind ourselves and reflect upon the story of Christ, his birth and his love for all mankind. Thank you for sharing, Vera.
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Thanks Jess. I wish you a very happy Christmas time and God’s best blessings in 2014.
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Same to you Vera. God bless you and family and have a blessed Christmas and great 2014.
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Vera, I feel that the retailers have hijacked Christmas and it makes me sad and angry. The true meaning of our Christian Holy day is under attack by society and the Country we live in. They don’t even want to call it Christmas anymore. It’s being called “the season” or “the holiday”. Christ has been taken out of Christmas in order to appease all other religions or for political correctness. I don’t have a problem with other religions celebrating their own religious holy days during the year; I respect that as their right. But it’s obvious we will soon be banned from celebrating Christ’s birth in public. December 25th will just become Santa Clause day! I’m saddened and amazed that our society in the near future will celebrate a fake Coca Cola icon over our Saviour. Christians are a quiet and humble lot. But before it’s too late I think it’s time we stop being quiet and shout out loud to everyone “Joy to the world, the Lord is come! Let earth receive her King!” Merry Christmas!
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I agree. We are like the frog in a pot of cold water – set on the stove, the heat turned up gradually. The frog adjusts and eventually gets cooked. We are the frog. People prefer their own idols – which they create and control – to humbly submitting to the God who created and lovingly wants to shape our lives to what He knows is best for us. I will begin by saying Merry Christmas to you and your family, and God bless you now and in 2014.
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Wishing you a magical Christmas season and all the good things in 2014! 🙂
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Same to you and your family and friends, Geraldine. Happy holiday times and all the good things too in 2014 🙂
I may try out your Slow Cooker Party Mix (have you tried Slow Cooker Oatmeal? very yummy!)
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