Longfellow's Christmas -
One of Hubs very favorite Christmas carols. Have you heard the story?
One of Hubs very favorite Christmas carols. Have you heard the story?
Posted by jo at 10:54 AM 0 comments
Labels: Holidays
Posted by jo at 8:31 AM 8 comments
Silent Night is probably one of my very favorite Christmas songs of all time. But in reality, THAT night was most likely not very quiet.
I love the movie that came out a few years ago called The Nativity Story. It portrays Mary in such a real, honest and human way, making the journey to Bethlehem with her not yet husband who is just as scared as she is.
Unlike our Sunday School pictures she did not wear a pristine, almost glowing light blue tunic with angelic white head dress. This young actress reminded me of the very real brush with death and very real night of horror, pain and miraculous birth that a young girl endured on a not so silent night long ago.
Do you remember the last time you gave birth?
Or rather the FIRST time you gave birth, because we know that one is the most horrific.
Now, can you remember doing all that without the drugs? in the dark. on the ground.
With no nurses there to assure you that this is normal and you're doing great. And no clean hospital bed and lights, and ice chips?
Add to that the obvious awkward situation that the man now fully responsible to bring about this delivery....
WAS A MAN! This just wasn't done then. Even Daddy's didn't get a viewing during delivery.
And speaking of viewing - they weren't married yet.
And let's try all this when we're about 16.
And as for silent?
Hardly.
Remember this night was one of the busiest Bethlehem had ever seen. So busy, and loud, and crowded that Mary and Joseph couldn't find a private room. But they were given a cave. I'm not sure it was a private cave. Maybe it was tucked into a large hill outside of town. For her sake I hope so.
But maybe it was in town, near to the inn, with people bustling by. And animals. Lots of animals.
And all that goes with animals.
Do you think that Mary had a moment where she turned her lady brain off and said to God Almighty - "You have to do this. This is crazy. You began it - You will finish it"
I'm sure she must have. Something like that.
Humbled. Horrified. But hoping with all her heart.
No, I imagine it was not all that silent in Bethlehem that night.
Or in heaven.
Thanks be to God for His indescribable gift.
Posted by jo at 7:01 AM 4 comments
Today I sat next to Hubs at his annual office Christmas luncheon. I enjoyed my quiet meal very much, even though the room was noisy. The kids weren't with us.
I didn't wipe one single mouth or remind anyone about manners, or appropriate volumes.
It was nice.
Amidst the low roar of Christmas tidings and year end stories I overheard a calm familiar voice of a precious lady reminding another mom in the room "not to ever give up".
Without turning around I knew the voice. And without hearing all the details I knew the heart of the conversation because I've heard these precious parents say it over and over again as it pertained to their now grown children.
"Never give up. Never ever give up. Encourage them every day and never give up."
It helps a great deal that this special couple has a strong faith in the Lord and relies on Him for the strength to encourage and love their children.
Posted by jo at 5:26 AM 3 comments
Posted by jo at 6:37 AM 9 comments
Labels: kids
This season of "farkly" lights and puking and presents and eating and singing songs about Jesus and hippopotumusessss all in the same five minutes doesn't always lend itself to long, creative blog posts full of retrospection and whit.
And meaning.
Flanked with breathtaking pictures of my beautiful Christmas decorations.
That the kids put up by themselves this year.
Due to the aforementioned puking.
However, it doesn't mean that things aren't going on. And that I don't have thoughts.
I have thoughts.
Like little itty bitty TWITTER size thoughts.
Twitter is for men, I'm convinced.
A short saying. To the point. No extra details or follow up necessary.
This why men Tweet and don't Blog. And that's the extent of my psychology expertise in the field of humanities.
But lately a little Tweet is about all I'm good for up there in the brain department.
So since, I don't carry around a smart phone in my bathrobe pocket to continuously update my facebook status and tweet collection I thought I would just save them up for the first ever, but most likely not the last ................................................
Posted by jo at 5:47 AM 7 comments
Posted by jo at 7:15 AM 17 comments
© Free Blogger Templates 'Photoblog II' by Ourblogtemplates.com 2008
Back to TOP