This time of year . . .

 

I don't mind that the month of December opens the windows of the year to another wintertime . . . with it's wind and cold, rain, sleet, snow . . . December brings to me a spark of love and faith, for it heralds the Christmas Season, my favourite season of the year.

I am still a big child at heart, and there isn't anything about Christmas I don't love. The decorations, the carols, the sights, the smells, the sounds . . . I find great joy and excitement in all of these things. The way I choose to live my life helps to keep me close to the joy of yuletide, the real meaning of Christmas, and the hope and trust that come to one whose faith is based on the birth of the Christchild in Bethlehem. I choose not to surround myself the commerciality of the urban centres, and . . . .  if I didn't need to go into town for anything . . .  I would not see any of it at all, especially if I chose not to turn on my television during this time of year.  However, there are too many good Christmas films, etc. on and I love them to no end  . . .

 

I have my favourites to be sure  . . . 

 In one tiny corner of the livingroom stands the tree. I wish that it was a real one, with all of its evergreen smell, but it's an artificial one, and a tiny one this year due to lack of space. It was actually much harder to decorate than a large one is . . .  mostly because I had to be really choosy about what I wanted to put onto it.  So many memories had to be left off . . . .  memories that I have built over my years here in the UK . . . ornaments that I have bought and still others that have been gifts from loving friends.  As small as it is however, and however few the ornaments, it is still a tree filled with memories and love and I feel really good sitting in my chair and gazing at it's branches laden with these special treasures, the colours of it's sparkling lights gleaming in the winter twilight. 

In the back garden, the hedge which surrounds us on all sides, is ablaze with the red berries of the Holly, it's waxy green leaves shining and beckoning me to clip some, placing it around our tiny home, adorning it with some medieval tradition that I know nothing about, but yearn to embrace. What would Christmas be without holly . . . 

 

 We don't have any snow. That is one thing I do miss at Christmas time here in the UK. The countryside covered in a blanket of pristine white, and shining like diamonds in the winter sun . . . glowing and sparkling when touched by the light of the stars high in the heavens. Back home, it almost always snows on Christmas Eve, big, white, fluffy flakes falling down from the heavens like feathers, adding to the magic of that special night. But there is beauty anyways in the frozen ground over here and the frost that begins to gild the trees and hedgerows with their own special frosting on these colder winter mornings . . . 

Bells and carols spread love and joy . . .  and add to the true spirit of Christmastime. I have an extensive library of Christmas music and I love to put it on during these December days and evenings, playing it low in the background, providing a wonderfully familial backdrop to all my activities as I putter here and putter there. As the winter birds visit the feeders outside my kitchen window,  I hear this holy season of love in the songs that they sing. I believe that the Robin is prettiest at this time of year, it's rosy red little breast puffed up against the cold as it hops along our garden pathways seeking crumbs, it's beautiful song filling the cold crisp air . . . a most welcome garden visitor. 

 

 I need no other gifts so long as I have my small loving family, Mitzie and Todd  . . . my chosen family of friends, and all this beauty and song around me. I meditate and dream. Yes . . . of Christmas's gone past and but also of Christmas present. My memories of Christmastime continue to point the way to the birth of our Saviour who promised eternal life for those who believe, and so I believe . . . this is the season of love. 

A thought to carry with you  . . . 

° * 。 • ˚ ˚ ˛ ˚ ˛ •
•。★★ 。* 。
° 。 ° ˛˚˛ * _Π_____*。*˚
˚ ˛ •˛•˚ */______/~＼。˚ ˚ ˛
˚ ˛ •˛• ˚ ｜ 田田 ｜門 ★
 *.˛.°  Christmas is not a time, nor a season,

but a state of mind. To cherish peace

and goodwill, to be plenteous in mercy,

is to have the real spirit of Christmas.

~Calvin Coolidge  •。★★ 。* 。 

Spiritual Enlightenment 

 

BOOK OF MORMON CORNER - Today's reading - 2 Nephi 9:1-14 

Question - What have you learnt from the reading today? What is your favourite title for Jesus Christ and why?  

 

My Thoughts - Death and hell are the two deaths Jacob speaks of. Physical death where our bodies are buried, and spiritual where those who died without a knowledge of the gospel, or who does in their sins are taught the gospel in hell or spirit prison. It is because of the wonderful plan of our redeemer, that we can rise pure and clean and stand before our maker, after using the wonderful gift of the atonement to sanctify, cleanse and purify ourselves before Him. Then, we will no longer have faith, but will be at a state of perfect knowledge. And we will have a perfect knowledge of our deeds and be judged accordingly. I love the last sentence, "the righteous shall have a perfect knowledge of their enjoyment, and their righteousness, being clothed with purity, yea, even with the robe of righteousness." I want to be numbered among those.

 

 Saviour. Redeemer. Advocate. Deliverer. Counsellor. Shepherd. Creator. Exemplar. Prince of Peace. King of Kings  . . .  every title of Jesus Christ has meaning for me personally. Its been really humbling to reflect on this today. 

 

 Jesus my 'exemplar' has to be one of my favourites. 💛 His example shows me how to love, serve, teach, and to obey my Heavenly Father. I love all of His perfect attributes. He is my example in all things. When I look to the Lord, my desire to do good and to be good grows. I am so grateful I can receive the Saviour's help and be given His ability to develop His attributes and live like Him. 

 

Tomorrow's Reading (Day 48) - 2 Nephi 9:15-30 

Question -What have you learnt from the reading today? How does it help you to know that The Lord's words will be fulfilled? 

 

 

 

Cooking in The English Kitchen today  . . .  Spicy Sausage, Peppers & Rice.  Quick, easy and tasty! 

 

Have a lovely Wednesday.  Don't forget along the way of your day!

 

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And I do too!