Grateful for Mom’s Hands (TY-26)

Today I wish to express my deepest appreciation for my mother and her hands. She has done countless deeds to make our lives wonderful. She is a phenomenal wife to my father and an extraordinary caretaker for my sister and I. Her gifts and talents are numerous. Her love for us is endless. There is nothing in the world I would not do for her. Yet, she expects nothing in return but our happiness. My mother is the epitome of unconditional love for which I am profoundly grateful. Thank you, mommy.

Her Hands

© Maggie Pittman

Her hands held me gently from the day I took my first breath.
Her hands helped to guide me as I took my first step.
Her hands held me close when the tears would start to fall.
Her hands were quick to show me that she would take care of it all.

Her hands were there to brush my hair, or straighten a wayward bow.
Her hands were often there to comfort the hurts that didn’t always show.
Her hands helped hold the stars in place, and encouraged me to reach.
Her hands would clap and cheer and praise when I captured them at length.

Her hands would also push me, though not down or in harm’s way.
Her hands would punctuate the words, just do what I say.
Her hands sometimes had to discipline, to help bend this young tree.
Her hands would shape and mold me into all she knew I could be.

Her hands are now twisting with age and years of work,
Her hand now needs my gentle touch to rub away the hurt.
Her hands are more beautiful than anything can be.
Her hands are the reason I am me.

Source: Her Hands, Mother Poem http://www.familyfriendpoems.com/poem/her-hands#ixzz2DYWQnTVE
www.FamilyFriendPoems.com

As promised in yesterday’s blog (Grateful for Goodness), here is the image of the 3 “tree canvas ornaments” I made for my friend Lorrie B. Jonas and the tree she is contributing to the A Festival of Trees fundraiser (http://www.festivaloftreesutah.org/). If you are interested in donating artwork, join this group on Facebook: Festival Of Trees-Artist Around The World Tree. She needs to have the artwork no later than November 30, 2013. I am mailing these out today.

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• Grateful for Friendship (TY-16) (akissofbliss.wordpress.com)
• More than you think (mydawnopinion.wordpress.com)
• It’s in your Hands (writingsofamrs.wordpress.com)
• open hands, open heart (meanttosayit.wordpress.com)

 

All Christmas Trees

On Christmas Day my husband, Sasha and I went for a glorious and wonderful walk on Noland Trail, which is a 5 mile-trail surrounding the Mariners Museum in Newport News, Virginia. This is an outdoor tree in front of the Mariners Museum that has been decorated for Christmas. And, it is indeed beautiful, just like everyone else’s Christmas trees. Merry Christmas!

 

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Twelve Days of Christmas

Ah, yes, we are in the Christmas season that kicked off yesterday, December 25 and continues until the evening of January 5 with the eve of Epiphany. It is unfortunate that the first day of Christmas ends the Christmas marketing season for merchants, as shown by the number of “after-Christmas sales” that launched today, December 26. The commercial calendar has encouraged an incorrect assumption that the Twelve Days end on Christmas Day and must begin on 14 December (Wikipedia).

I still celebrate the liturgical seasons of Advent and Christmas accordingly. Many people who observe the Twelve Days may give gifts on each of them, with each day of the Twelve Days representing a wish for a corresponding month of the new year. They feast and otherwise celebrate the entire time through Epiphany morning. Other traditions include: lighting a candle for each day, burning a Yule Log on the first night (Christmas night) and let it burn some each of the twelve nights, and having traditional foods served each night (Wikipedia).

For me and my family, we enjoy our time together listening to Christmas Carols, sharing conversation and leftovers, and reminiscing over Christmases past. We also partake in the “after-Christmas” sales and plan for the New Year. For some, Twelfth Night (January 5th) remains the biggest night for parties and gift-giving. Some households exchange gifts on the first (25 December) and last (5 January) days of the season. As in olden days, Twelfth Night to Epiphany morning is then the traditional time to take down the Christmas tree and decorations (Wikipedia).

Truth be told, our Christmas tree often stayed up until my sister’s birthday, which is just before mid-January. And, since we use an artificial tree, we could theoretically have the tree up all year and simply change the decorations to reflect the changing seasons (Valentine tree, St. Patrick’s day tree, Spring tree, Easter tree, and so on). We can choose to celebrate Christmas, love and light anyway we wish; but, the best way to keep Christmas and love in our hearts, is to give a bit of ourselves to others everyday of the year with the gift of kindness and compassion, whenever the opportunity presents itself. Merry Christmas!

 

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