Chapter 12, Page 31, Book 16

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Farewell, old year; we walk no more together;
I catch the sweetness of thy latest sigh...
Here in the dim light of a grey December
We part in smiles, and yet we met in tears;
Watching thy chilly dawn, I well remember…

Sarah Doudney 

The 7th day of Christmas…December 31st

 As this year ends, I think It’s important to remember the spirit of generosity that comes with Christmas. Because of this, today's thought of the day is about charity, and how important it is to help out your fellow man! it could be the small change you don’t need going into a jar or the clothing you no longer use, but it all comes together to help make life a little more bearable for people less fortunate than yourself.  

Charity begins at home, but should not end there.

It's been a long and very trying year for many of us, which means hopefully that we've been building our character, making it stronger, so we have a new found strength to carry us into the new year and all that it has to offer.

New Years Eve is a time to say goodbye to last year, put it behind, celebrate all that was good and look ahead. More importantly, New Year begins the process of gratitude and reflection. It’s time to think about what we did last year that made someone else’s life better and what we did that made our own life better and, what we  are going to do in the New Year.

Remember:

If you haven't got any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble.

Bob Hope 

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Chapter 12, Page 30, Book 16

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Keep your Christmas heart open all the year round. 

J.L.W. Brooks

The 6th day of Christmas…December 30th

Feelings of worth can flourish only in an atmosphere where individual differences are appreciated, mistakes are tolerated, communication is open, and rules are flexible – the kind of atmosphere that is found in a nurturing family 

Virginia Satir

I’ve been thinking about how beautiful it is to nurture and be nurtured, to feel unselfish caring for ourselves and others; to be supportive; to be willing to spend time together, and if necessary to be loving enough to say the things those we love might not want to hear and to do it consciously, kindly but honestly while holding them in love. This is the essence of family, friendship and community. 

Be the one who nurtures and builds. Be the one who has an understanding and a forgiving heart one who looks for the best in people. Leave people better than you found them.

 Marvin J. Ashton

Let us always meet each other with smile, for the smile is the beginning of love.  Let’s just see if we can’t brighten up the world a little by sharing the Christmas magic of a smile.  No matter who we are or where we are, a smile can help us feel loved and cherished.  I wonder if each of us could reach out today with a more nurturing attitude and, as we do so, feel more nurtured ourselves.

I heard a bird sing
In the dark of December,
A magical thing,
And sweet to remember:
We are nearer to spring
Than we were in September.

Oliver Herford, Hope

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Chapter 12, Page 29, Book 16

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I wish we could put up some of the Christmas spirit in jars and open a jar of it every month. 

Harlan Miller

The 5th day of Christmas…December 29th

Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.

Desmond Tutu

On this 5th day of Christmas, I am challenged to seek the light that Christ gave us for Christmas.

Light is essential to our daily lives.  We would never try to walk at night on a strange and unfamiliar path with out some source of light.  

 Christmas lights remind us that we are no longer in the dark. Christmas should not be a once a year event so that we remain mindful of how it is to walk in the light. Walking in the light means being humble, loving unconditionally, and forgiving as we are forgiven.

The good news that we hear on Christmas is that we are not alone as we walk in the light, because Emmanuel is with us. Keeping that in mind we now understand why everyday is Christmas because the truth is: Christmas is in our hearts. And for as long as we live our light shines in our daily living , the gift of light is not just given for a season but for all eternity. Christmas is forever.

GOD is light and there is not any darkness in HIM.

1 John 1:5

Light is an important Christmas symbol. The festive lights we turn on and the candles we light are signs of hope. The light that shone in that simple stable in Bethlehem can continue to shine in our hearts today. It can be a light that guides us and shines before others.

 Light itself provides warmth and comfort. Just as we share our light with others by loving and caring for them.

Like snowflakes, my Christmas memories gather and dance — each beautiful, unique and too soon gone. 

Deborah Whipp

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Chapter 12, Page 28, Book 16

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What happy faces do we see,
Their cares forgotten everyone,
This is the way it ought to be
From dawn until the set of sun.
These blessed days of joy and peace,
Bedecked with wonder, set apart,
Through all our yeas will never cease,
If we keep Christmas in our heart!

Grace E. Easley

The 4th day of Christmas… December 28th

 Christmas is not just for a certain time of the year any more than love, peace, joy, and goodwill are for a certain time of the year.  Challenges will arise during the coming year. 

If we meet them in the Christmas spirit, optimism, love, and faith will prevail. Remembering the meaning of Christmas at any time of the year can be the good news of a great joy,

When Christmas is over and we are putting the decorations away, perhaps it may be helpful to leave one decoration out and placed where it can be seen. It will remind us of the deep significance of the season. A card, a tree ornament, a figurine, a candle or any special memento close to our hearts, may very well bring to our remembrance that Jesus' birth is once more here within us with its glorious message of love, faith, and peace.

 Christmas is for all seasons, for it is a season of the heart!

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Chapter 12, Page 27, Book 16

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That it shall not be just a day,
But last a lifetime through,
The miracle of Christmastime
That brings God close to you

Garnett Ann Schultz

The 3rd day of Christmas… December 27

Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, persevere in prayer.

Romans 12:12

It would be wonderful if we could keep those miraculous and precious moments of Christmas alive in our hearts forever, not just one day of the year.  Sad but true for most of us, we forget that every day is a good one, not just the holidays.

My idea of Christmas, whether old fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others. Come to think of it, why do we have to wait for Christmas to do that?

Bob Hope

We are each blessed with the gift of a new day but what we do with whatever comes our way is up to us.  Life is hard, life is tough, but there are many beautiful moments to enjoy if we look for them.

There is hope in every sunrise !

So remember while December

Brings the only Christmas day,
In the year let there be Christmas

In the things you do and say

Anonymous

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Chapter 12, Page 26, Book 16

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Work of Christmas Begins

Howard Thurman (adapted)

When the song of the angels is stilled,

when the star in the sky is gone,

when the kings and princes are home,

when the shepherds are back with the flocks,

then the work of Christmas begins:

to find the lost,

to heal those broken in spirit,

to feed the hungry,

to release the oppressed,

to rebuild the nations,

to bring peace among all peoples,

to make a little music with the heart…

And to radiate the Light of Christ,

every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say.

Then the work of Christmas begins.

Let the work of Christmas begin, and let it begin with you.

On the 2nd day of Christmas…December 26th

The day after Christmas brings thoughts of the coming New Year here at my house.  2016 brought many changes and I hoping that 2017 will be a little kinder.  

There were no doubt some good times to be remembered too.  We had many good times as a family and those are the things I’ll try to be thankful for as I write the last few pages in this book of 2016.

We were blessed with many family holiday celebrations, birthdays and picnics.  At one time or another I was able to spend time with all of my children and that is not always possible.  

Except for the cold I got for Christmas, I’ve been relatively healthy and that is a blessing indeed.  The little aches and pains that come with getting older, truly are not even worth mentioning.

I keep Christmas here at my house until January 6th which is also known as twelfth night or Epiphany, so for just a little while yet I’ll be continuing with the same theme…Please join me as we celebrate the 12 days of Christmas!

I will honour Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year.

Charles Dickens 

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Chapter 12, Page 25, Book 16

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A Prayer for Christmas

Teach us to value most eternal things…
To find the happiness that giving brings...
To know the peace of misty, distant hills…
To know the joy that giving self fulfils…
To realize anew this Christmas Day…
The things we keep are those we give away.

Marvin Davis Winsett, A Christmas Prayer

From my house to yours, I wish you a very Merry Christmas!

Christmas comes whether we are ready of not.  Hopefully some of my reflections on the gifts of hope, love, joy and peace in the past 4 weeks have helped in your preapations for a very Merry Christmas Day.

Wake up every morning with a thankful attitude. Expect something good to happen in your life today.

Joel Osteen

Just to wake up on another Christmas morning is a joy to me.  God’s treasures can be found wherever I go... in the generous acts and kind words by others, through the affection of animals, and through the beauty of nature and art.

Christmas day will always be, just as long as we have we. Welcome Christmas while we stand, heart to heart and hand in hand.

 Dr. Seuss

Children are always the highlight of our Christmas Eve services at church. The pictures are of just a few of my grandchildren taken this Christmas Eve.

Sometimes we need a little something that will remind us to keep moving forward no matter what life throws at us and Christmas does that for me.

TODAY, be thankful and remember how rich you are. Your family is priceless, your time is gold, and your health is wealth. 

Author Unknown

Christmas opens the door to so many blessings and strengths that we all need. The door remains open right into 2017 too.

Remember: Christmas given away will stay fresh—even until it comes again

The Joy You Give
John Greenleaf Whittier

Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you.
And the more you spend in blessing
The poor and lonely and sad,
The more of your heart's possessing
Returns to you glad.

♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ It’s the Most Wonderful Season of All♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ 

Chapter 12, Page 24, Book 16

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I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign for you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. 

Luke 2:10-12

This is one news flash that never grows old.  It’s as good for today as it was then.  Great news for all !  And who among us doesn’t like to hear some good news!

It is absolutely essential that we do not let waves of negative news smother the many small stories of good news in every community and in every person. It's not a denial of what's going on in our world. It's not a denial of many sad stories in every community. But it is all about acknowledging that good news always does inspire. It gives us the momentum to keep going and keep us in touch with the heartbeat of life itself. In the midst of every cold damp and miserable fog, it is good to know that warmth and sunshine will always break through. 

Remember to welcome good news when you see it, encourage good news when you can and be good news whenever it is possible!

We wish you a merry Christmas; We wish you a merry Christmas;
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Good tidings we bring to you and your kin.
We wish you a merry Christmas and a happy New Year!

Traditional Christmas Carol

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Chapter 12, Page 23, Book 16

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Where there is faith, there is love;
Where there is love, there is peace;
Where there is peace, there is God;
And where there is God; there is no need.

Leo Tolstoy

The hope of Christmas: Peace on earth!

There are just a very few days until Christmas now .  All is not calm and bright for many in this world, but here at my house, peace has found it’s presence. 

We had our family celebration for Christmas last Saturday, so the days of preparation, gift wrapping and cooking are done for me.  

We always do the family gathering on a different weekend before or after Christmas so that each of my children can be home with their families for the actual Christmas Day.  

I’ll be meeting up with some of my family for Christmas services at church on Christmas Eve, but other wise…all remains pretty quiet here at my house.  

Quiet is peaceful but so is the noise of a large family all together.  It’s a peaceful feeling to know that they are all safe, healthy and happy.

To those who see with loving eyes, life is beautiful. To those who speak with tender voices, life is peaceful. To those who help with gentle hands, life is full. And to those who care with compassionate hearts, life is good beyond all measure.

Author Unknown

Last weekend we also received news that one of my sisters had passed away.  Her illness and her death hit us all pretty hard.  I know though, that she is at peace now and as one of my dear friends said, she got the best Christmas present ever - Heavenly Peace.

Have courage for the great sorrows of life and patience for the small ones; and when you have laboriously accomplished your daily task, go to sleep in peace. God is awake.

Victor Hugo

Every person is a complex mixture of strengths and weaknesses, toughness and gentleness, good points and not so good. We are delicate and fragile. Yet we are also capable of showing remarkable resilience. And just as everyone's personal story, beliefs and viewpoints are so varied and different, all have a place and as life is complex so are we.

At the heart of the message of Christmas, is that God is present in the middle of it all.

The Lord bless you and protect you.

The Lord make his face shine on you and be gracious to you.

The Lord lift up his face to you and grant you peace.

Numbers 6:24-26

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Chapter 12, Page 22, Book 16

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For it isn't enough to talk about peace.
One must believe in it.
And it isn't enough to believe in it.
One must work at it.

Eleanor Roosevelt

TAKE THE PEACE OF CHRISTMAS WITH YOU EVERY DAY

The message of peace on earth was intended to go beyond the Christmas story and work its way into our lives on a daily basis. 

I remember when I first realized that living with frustration, aggravation and worry really just did me no good at all. I was fed up. All I ever got from being this way was a headache, a back ache, a grouchy attitude, and regret for saying things I never should have said.  Truly I was tired of living that way.

Peace is possible and it’s our best answer to our worst problems. Through love, communication, and understanding, we can come together in peace.

Everything is not going to go our way all the time, and when it doesn’t, we can be prepared to stay in peace in the midst of it all.  If we'd all agreed to be more peaceful in our own minds, our own homes, and our daily lives, peace could actually begin to dominate our world. 

Peace is our gift to each other.

Elie Wiesel

There are people who give the gift of peace and tranquility to every life they touch. They are always who they really are. They are blessedly reliable, dependably good, predictably pleasant, loved and treasured by all who know them.

Remember: Living in peace is about living harmoniously with yourself and with others

If there is to be any peace
it will come through being, not having.

Henry Miller

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Chapter 12, Page 21, Book 16

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Deep peace of the winter solstice to you.
Deep peace of the falling snow to you.
Deep peace of the love of friends to you.
Deep peace of the gentle deer to you.
Deep peace of the moon and stars to you.

Author Unknown

WINTER PEACE

Winter is a peaceful time of sharing and loving. But winter inspires both joy and woe. Some people can’t wait for the cooler weather, snow, skiing and ice skating, curling up by a fire, and the holiday spirit. You’ll notice a peaceful sort of silence when you walk through the snow, a muffled kind of quiet. 

Others, like me, dislike the frigid temperatures, blizzards, and wild weather. In colder regions like mine, winter often means shoveling, snowblowing, dealing with bad roads, and sometimes unbearable temperatures. 

I may not always like winter, but it is a time to stay in and keep warm and cozy, that is a peaceful feeling in itself.

Winter, a lingering season, is a time to gather golden moments,
embark upon a sentimental journey, and enjoy every idle hour.

John Boswell

I have always thought of my home as a peaceful place, but with all the sorting out, and packing up to move, it is rather hard to find that peace.  But I know that nothing stays the same and nothing lasts forever.

Finding peace here these days is more of a matter of what is felt in my heart.  I have made peace with what has happened and trying to make the best of it all. Peace can be found no matter the circumstances.

Peace can flourish in our hearts even during a winter storm.   Remember:  home is where the heart is.

Winter is the time for comfort, for
good food and warmth, for the touch
of a friendly hand and for a talk beside
the fire:  it is the time for home.

Edith Sitwell

♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪ It’s the Most Wonderful Season of All♥ ¸¸.•*¨*•♫♪