{Monday} Moments: My Gift List

I was standing in the shower,

 eyes closed, hot water

cascading over my head,

down my shoulders and

beyond to the drain.

Something I carelessly

take for granted each

day, now suddenly 

in focus.

What a gift, I thought,

to turn a handle and have

this luxury, when others

in the world still have to

go to a well or a river

and carry their water home.

As I lathered the shampoo,

I pondered other gifts

that I had received on this

chilly morning.  My first 

gift of the day.

I'd awoken, sleepy in 

the pre-dawn, to attend 

a spin class.

Gift two:  great health, 

something to be thankful

for each and every day,

but seldom lauded until

it ducks and hides.

Back from class, I'd packed

lunches for my two kids.

As I spread peanut butter

and jelly, I smiled.

I was making lunches for

my healthy and happy

children that, at one time,

I was told were unlikely

to ever be conceived.

And I had two.

Gifts three and four.

While I was powering

through exercise class, 

my mama, visiting for

Christmas, was already

up and baking, and the

sweet smell of delicious

cookies greeted me as

I stepped through the

garage door.

And it occurred to me

that 100 years ago it

was doubtful that a

relative would travel

1500 miles for Christmas.

The ease of transportation

in modern times means

that we can hold loved

ones close, more often.

Gift number five.

Checking my e-mail, I

noticed a sweet comment

that a reader from Norway

had left for me earlier.  A 

new, lovely friend from 

across the globe.  

Gift number six.

Shower turned off and

embraced in my terry robe, I

considered all these gifts.

And it was only 8AM.

The rest of the day lay

ahead like an endless roll

of beautiful wrapping paper,

waiting to be filled with

more gifts, if I just slowed

down enough to 
receive
them.

I did.

Sweet tangerines from

Florida, nestled in a bowl

in this Midwest home, far

from the groves where

they were grown.

A text sent from a 

dear friend.

Electricity when the 

sun went down.  

A good laugh with 

my husband.

Precious gifts, 

each one.

My wish for all of you

in 2012 is a heart that

is open to receive all the 

gifts that are there, in your

own lives, every single day.

You certainly have been

beautiful ones, for me.

Merry Christmas 

with love,

xx

Suzanne

PS: Please link up your

own special moments, 

below, or leave me a

comment about them.

I'd consider it a very

special gift : )

Meeting Angels

Remember when

Linus read passages

8-14 of the second

chapter of the Gospel of

Luke in the animated

film Charlie Brown's

Christmas?

Everyone stopped

dancing and acting

crazy and a peace

descended over the

crowded gymnasium

stage.

I've always loved

those verses.

The little child in me

has contemplated the 

idea of meeting one

angel, let alone 

a great company of

the heavenly host,

as long as I can

remember.

Ethereal, larger-than
life, glowing and
winged, beautiful
beings.

It wasn't until I was

older that I understood

the phrase angels

among us.

It happens when you are

lead to someone you

would not 

usually have met,

at the exact time and

place that you need

them the most.

And that someone 

touches your life in

a profound way.

Angels among us.

The word angel has

its foundation in the

Greek and Hebrew words

 for messenger.

They are considered

to be God's instruments

or ministering spirits.

The term has been

expanded across many

religions to mean a

spiritual being.

In addition to serving 

as messengers, angels are

thought to protect, guide and

 carry out God's tasks.

Angelology is the

theological study of

angels.  Although in

art seraphim and cherubim

are depicted with wings,

there is no mention of

wings in the Bible.  

Most often, when angels

appear in the Bible, it

is in the form of a man.

In my own life, angels

have taken the form of

hair dressers

concerned friends 

bus drivers

care givers

policemen 

relatives
animals

and more.

The common link?

They provided guidance

or were an answer to

a prayer.

Have you been touched

by

an

angel?

I'll put the kettle on,

light the fire and plump

up the pillows.  I'd

love to hear your story.

xx

Suzanne

PS:  See you Monday

for the last 

Monday Moments

of 2011.

And there were shepherds living

out in the fields nearby, keeping

watch over their flocks by night.

An angel of the Lord appeared to them,

and the glory of the Lord shone around

them, and they were terrified.  But the

angel said to them, Do not be afraid.  I

bring you good news that will cause

great joy for all the people.  Today in the

town of David a Savior has been born to

you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.  This will

be a sign to you:  You will find a baby 

wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly

host appeared with the angel, praising God

and saying

Glory to God in the highest, and on earth

peace to those on whom his favor rests.

~ Luke, 2: 8-14

{Monday} Moments: A Different Path

Christmas

doesn't come

to you,

but

through you.

~ Reverend John Ross

source:  Suzanne W. via Pinterest

Ever have one of

those Christmas

seasons where you

just weren't feeling

it?

I think it happens to

most of us at some

time or another.
{It did to me, 
last year.}

You can't catch the 

spirit, no matter what 

you try.

source:  Suzanne W. via Pinterest

Our minister spoke

to this subject on Sunday,

advising us to find ways

to bring the soul of

Christmas to life through

service to others.

It doesn't require grand

gestures.  Just reaching

out, in small ways, can

bring a little Christmas 

into someone's life.

source:  Suzanne W. via Pinterest

Surprise your child's

bus driver with a plate

of homemade cookies.

Drop some coins in

every Salvation Army

Kettle you see.  Or better

yet, sign up to ring the

bell for an hour or two.

source:  Suzanne W. via Pinterest

Take someone out to

shop who has difficulty

getting around on their own.

Give a child a gift

through Toys for Tots

or the Angel Trees that

dot many offices and

malls this time of year.

source:  Suzanne W. via Pinterest

Let the harried person

behind you in the grocery

store go ahead of you.

{With a smile.}

In last week's mail I

was delighted to find an

unexpected package

from a dear friend.

source:  Suzanne W. via Pinterest

Inside, the book

25 Days, 26 Ways to

Make This Your Best

Christmas Ever

was nestled with a

card.  My pal said it

had been a wonderful

guide for her last year

and she thought I'd

love a copy of my own.

She was right.

source:  Suzanne W. via Pinterest

Through her kindness,

I was beginning to

receive Christmas, too.

Taking a quiet few

minutes each day to

soak in the wisdom of

this little gem has helped

me to gently refocus my

lens away from all of the

hoopla that surrounds

this season to the pure

heart of it all.

Bringing Christmas

through me, not to me.

source:  Suzanne W. via Pinterest

I am certain that many of

you reading this have

tapped this secret a long

time ago.

You don't wait for the

spirit of Christmas to find

you.  Instead, you find it

by reaching out to others.

And that makes all 

of the difference.

source:  Suzanne W. via Pinterest

So go forth this week

and spread kindness and

cheer wherever you can.

Christmas magic

is sure

to follow.

xx

Suzanne

Start spreading that cheer

right here, by linking up

your own merry, informative,

crafty, delicious or pretty

post, below.  Or, leave a

comment sharing your own

special moments over the

last weekend or week.