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(The Twelve Ways of Christmas, Part 6: The Way of Reflection)
“Livie, why did you teach Lit?” Katie asked her grandmother, eyes rolling with attitude.
“Because I wanted to teach high school kids, and they made me pick a subject,” the bright-eyed woman said with confidence. “Anyway, they already had a football coach.”
Olivia Driver opened the door to her guest room, parted the curtains, and opened the blinds to let the morning sunlight in. Though it was early, her straight, silver hair looked beautifully radiant, as always. Her trim frame and purposeful pace revealed an energy that defied her 78 years. Olivia was on a mission. Today she had planned (she always had a plan) to get the boxes and paper from the closet and start wrapping gifts. This would be a Christmas to remember. All her children and grandchildren would be there, along with those three adorable great-grands.
And this would be Olivia Driver’s last Christmas at her home of 34 years.
January would bring changes, and it was all Olivia’s doing. Four years after her husband’s death, she had decided to sell the house and move to a nearby retirement/assisted care community. She had already completed a thorough inventory, planned an estate sale, tagged the furniture and other items she would move with her, and scheduled the move-in. Only one keep-or-toss decision remained for this retired Literature teacher. And in the streaming sunlight, it caught her eye.
There at the foot of the bed was a large cedar chest, covered by a beautifully-crocheted afghan. Throughout her grandchildren’s younger years, Livie (that’s what they called her) had invited them to explore the Chest of Wonder. [click to continue…]
This is one of the strangest days of the year. The Christmas tree is still up, but there are no presents beneath it. The trips have been made, and people are starting to settle back down to “normal.” All the cooks have declared a holiday, and the Great Gift Exchange has begun. And in our culture, we’re preparing for another phenomenon: the end of one year, and the start of another.
Sort of like they did on the first day after the first Christmas.
Take a look, and maybe we can catch an insight into how we can extend the wonder of the season past all the gifts and food. And I think we can gain some principles that will also help us prosper in the coming year. [click to continue…]
As you can probably tell from here and here, I’m a big fan of Winnie the Pooh. I pretty well ignored him during my first childhood, but in my second – with my own children – he and his friends became some of my favorite characters.
There in the Hundred Acre Wood, Pooh is a model of contentment. He helps his friends, enjoys the outdoors, doesn’t fret about his weight, and never loses his patience. He loves his honey, and his only real worry is seeing to it he has a plentiful supply. His friends are high-strung (Rabbit), insecure (Piglet), maternal (Kanga), and playful (Roo), gloomy (Eeyore), egotistical (Owl), and irresponsible (Tigger).
Winnie the Pooh? He’s just proud to be here.
I think I may have found the secret to the chubby cub’s contentment. Just outside the hollow tree where he lives is a log that is used for sitting. Beside the log is a sign that reads, “The Thotful Spot.” Being a Bear of Very Little Brain, Pooh must think hard, and think often. Whenever there is a problem or a confusing question, or practically any occasion that requires a brain, he returns to the Thotful Spot to think. He doesn’t always come up with the right answers. But he always comes away with an idea. And he always comes away happy.
Everybody needs a Thoughtful Spot. [click to continue…]
