Sunday, December 24, 2017

oh christmas...


christmas eve... the quiet hour before dinner

time to pause, breathe, gather thoughts, anticipation

it's interesting, getting older...

it always surprises me how differently i see things as the years slide by

when i was young i was enthralled with the story of st. nicholas... "santa" was who i believed to be the bearer of gifts but in grade five i read a book about the story of st. nicholas and i loved it

i thought then, and do still today, that it was a better story, a truer belief and something we could all aspire to, every day

to give what we can to those who need it more than we do

to think about others before we think of ourselves


a few years ago i made a "wrapping cloth" in one of karen ruane's classes - she spoke of a wrapping cloth being a cloth you make in honour of a person, to symbolically wrap them up and keep them safe. stitching your love for them into every part of it

i made mine in honour of christmas and all the love and memories i have of those early christmases of mine

of my mom who did everything she could to make them special, of my brothers and my friends, the importance of loving and giving

of sharing


of the year my oldest brother went out after we younger ones were asleep

he cut down a tree, set it up in our bedroom, decorated it and put presents under it - what a grand surprise that was!
 
  
there are stars on it like these. for the wishes that need wishing

and hearts like this one, for those who need loving...

christmas, with all it's beautiful layers of meaning, might seem like an odd thing to want to keep "safe"

but sometimes this world would like to drag us down a different path

and the love and joy the season brings, and all that goes with that, need a helping hand

 

11 comments:

gracie said...

A beautiful post.

Magpie's Mumblings said...

Just popping in to wish you and your loved ones a very merry and blessed Christmas. Will be back to read your post properly!

FlowerLady Lorraine said...

Merry Christmas dear Jillayne ~ I have one of those stars hanging in my creche, which was made by my dear husband. On the back of the star is the word 'hope'.

Thank you for sharing your creativeness and your love ~ FlowerLady

susan hemann said...

lovely post and work! merry Christmas

Createology said...

Precious Memories Jillayne Dear. I BELIEVE and will always enJOY the Magic of this wonderful Christmas season. Merry Christmas to You and Yours...and...Blessings for all of 2018. xo <3

Magpie's Mumblings said...

I'm so glad I didn't rush through reading this post and now could take the time to savour every word. Your images are, of course, wonderful...but it's the words that go straight to my heart. Blessings on you during this time of Christmas and carrying over into the new year.

Christine Barnes said...

Such lovely and thoughtful words Jillayne which provided a much needed pause in the chaos of Christmas preparations... a pause to reflect. I have read them over and over which is why I have only just come back to comment. Thank you friend :)

Rachel said...

You're very right - Christmas needs a helping hand from all of us, especially at the moment.

Belatedly, a merry Christmas to you and yours!

foxyloon said...

lovely. thank you

Karen said...

oh I loved reading your Christmas ''stories'', your Christmas thoughts and what a wonderful use of a wrapping cloth....

Marj Talbot said...

So nice to read your words - as usual very inspiring as is your work. Thanks for all you shared in 2017. The years are definitely slipping by and all too quickly. All the best to you, your family, and all your followers in 2018.