A Christmas Post Script...

"It came without ribbons.

It came without tags.

It came without packages, boxes or bags.

Maybe Christmas doesn't come from a store.

Maybe Christmas means a little bit more."

- Dr. Seuss

For another year, Christmas is behind us. Until the very day of, it did not feel like Christmas here at all. Our tree was up,

cooking was done, there were packages under the tree and still Sherwin and I did not feel Christmasy at all.

Our children were all so far away. Our neighbours had the flu and couldn't come for dinner. Were we going to be able to salvage the day?

But the morning dawned. We lit the tree and began slowly celebrating with small steps. And before the day was far along we had spoken to all the children, eaten a yummy dinner and enjoyed spectacular Christmas music and a couple movies of a Christmas nature.

One of our highlights for TV watching was the ABC Peace on Earth Special from the Spencerville, MD Seventh-day Adventist Church.

It was a delight and we watched it at least 3 times yesterday. The above photo shows the Voice of Prophecy quartet, "The King's Heralds", singing "The Little Drummer Boy". Excellent.

Sherwin had opened only one gift the night before which he suspected was a puzzle from my sister and had made a good beginning, finishing it tonight.

Late in the afternoon we went for a walk and enjoyed an encounter with our local javelinas.

There were 10 or 11 of them and we were so excited to be so close our pictures are not without some blur but we also didn't want to get so close they would charge. They did have a couple babies with them.

All in all it was such a low-key, quiet, unusual day but it turned out to be a splendid experience. We found that we could relax and rest and just enjoy each other and the comfort and peace of our home here.

Yes we did have packages to open and enjoy but it seemed that Christmas for us, after a very troubled and turbulent year, was not going to happen. But it did. That is the joyful thing about our day! It did!!

When we just put one foot in front of another and walked through it, we found it was wonderful and everything Christmas should be. We ended the day with more peaceful hearts than we had enjoyed in some time.

"We are simply human beings, 
enfolded in weakness and in hope, 
called together to change our world 
one heart at a time."
- Jean Vanier

And so I leave you tonight with the wish that you could find peace in your hearts.

God be with you and be well.