Wednesday, December 24, 2008

The Best Part of Christmas



The shopping is done. The presents are wrapped. The cards – well, so what if they’re a little late. There is no tree this year, but the Nativity and the stockings and the votive village lend an understated glow to the room.

And now comes the best part of Christmas – quiet moments of peace and reflection, time to ponder the blessings in life and to offer silent thanks for each and all of them. Thanks for friends near and far, for the gift of having someone to hold close, for sunrises and sunsets, for health, and for smiles from sometimes unexpected sources. For the beauty of the earth, for talents, and the support to try to improve upon them, for warmth – inside and out. For peace of heart. For promises kept. For light, and hope – and dreams.

May your own Holidays bring you ample time and opportunity to appreciate all you have and those around you. May the silent night give you new hope and refresh your soul. May the warm glow of a fire bring warmth to your heart. And may the promise of this day and of the new year about to dawn bring you hope and opportunity, health and happiness – and a special peace that will linger long beyond the holidays.

To all of you who take the time to stop and read these words from time-to-time, please know how grateful I am for the time you choose to spend here. I truly hope that your own holidays find you warm and happy, that you allow your inner child to emerge, and that each of you is blessed with a quiet moment or two to reflect and appreciate – and to hope and dream in childlike wonder.

Merry Christmas. Happy Holidays. Happy New Year. Thank you.

Rob

15 comments:

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

A very blessed Christmas to you too!

Michelle said...

'Although it's been said, many times, many ways...'

And how beautifully you've said it here, sweet friend. It truly isn't about what's under the tree, is it? Thank you, for sharing words of wonder, hope and peace to last the whole year through.

Many Christmas blessings to you!

Lynne said...

Merry Christmas Rob, wonderful tribute and message! I hope your day is filled with God's presence of hope and love. God Bless!

Jeannette said...

I hope you had a very happy Christmas Rob. It was nice to read your post, Christmas has become so commercialised now, yours sounds like the good old fashioned Christmases of my childhood. May you have a very happy, healthy and peaceful new year Jeannette xx

MariesImages said...

Hope you had a wonderful Christmas~
Happy New Years~
Marie

Kathy said...

Happy New Year! Hoping 2009 will be a terrific year for you.

Kathy

Nancy said...

I could have sworn I commented on this...I'm not very blogger savvy just yet!
In any case, you always express youself with the most meaningful sentiments in the most poetic ways.

Thanks for warming my heart...

Nancy

Kathy said...

The 'other Kathy' is dropping by to wish you a Happy New Year! I've been remiss in my reading of late. Life gets in the way. LOL

Anonymous said...

Rob, I want to thank you for the lovely email you sent me about Dad after I stopped blogging. I very much appreciated it and I am glad you found my new blog here.
Well, Christmas seems long gone now, I hope you had much Peace. This was a beautiful entry. ~Mary

Ally Lifewithally said...

Hi Rob ~ I have been trying to catch up with blogs and I see it is a long time ago since you made an entry ~ hope you are OK ~ Ally x

Lori @ Purple Snapdragons said...

Haven't seen any updates from you in quite a while, so I thought I'd stop by and say hello. Hope you are doing well!

Shelly said...

Wonderful sentiments!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year. : ) xoxo God Bless!!

Unknown said...

I am new to your journal but just love it. Hope you update soon. Meanwhile, may you always experince the warmth of God's love and the tightness of His embrace.

Toyin O. said...

hope you had a good holiday, happy new year:)

ADB said...

I heard of your passing in 2022. May you rest in peace.