Gifts

written by Ann Voskamp, One Thousand Gifts
Joy:
...The brave who focus on all things good and all things beautiful and all things true, even in the small, who give thanks for it and discover joy even in the here and now, they are the change agents who bring fullest Light to all the world. When we lay the soil of our hard lives open in the rain of grace and let joy penetrate our cracked and dry places, let joy soak into our broken skin and deep crevices, life grows...

Time:
Time is a relentless river. It rages on, a respecter of no one. And this, this is the only way to slow time: When I fully enter time's swift current, enter into the current moment with the weight of all my attention, I slow the torrent with the weight of me all here...Weigh down this moment in time with attention full, and the whole of time's river slows, slows, slows...I have lived the runner, panting ahead in worry, pounding back in regrets, terrified to live the present, because here-time asks me to do the hardest of all: just open wide and receive.

I can't believe how easy the tree went up this year. Just popped it in the stand and voila, it was straight. This is largely contrasted from last year when the tree almost fell over on multiple occasions. When we stood back and looked at it, we all commented that we probably never have picked a more scrawny tree, but once the limbs relaxed, and the ornaments on, it looks beautiful. The train fits perfect underneath, and the kids have been having a great time with it.  

A friend handed me two huge bins of GeoTrax trains. I knew nothing about how awesome this toy is! I have two sick kids home today, and I knew I was going to need some quality entertainment. We set up a very exciting track and then we realized that the trains are self-propelled. Fun! 

Pumping the kids with vitamin C to fight the running noses, sore throats, cough and headache. Can't hurt. Neither does candy canes, twinkling lights, sparkling snowflakes, homemade cookies, cuddley overgrown puppies, loving husbands, squishy pillows, warm quilts or hot tea with honey.

Sponsored Dresses!

Felt a bit weird hanging out these dresses for a photo in 30 degree weather. Wishing a could wrap up these up for Christmas in fancy tissue with a big bow on top. Can't stop thinking about the children who won't receive a family this holiday season. I made these dresses for older girls. My heart is heavy for the older child who might be caring for siblings or have experienced more pain and loss and trying to survive in bleak situations.

Thank you Paul and Heather for your generous sponsorship.  

Anonymous contributor 

Not as Planned

Dear Kelly,

You must try to remember that waking up at 5am doesn't make for a better day. Instead of getting tons done, you just start more projects which makes for a more frantic (and tired) you, at 12 noon.

Secondly, never buy a snow jacket again because they are apparently "not cool", will never be worn and the argument about whether or not it is cold enough for a jacket is one you will regret.

Two year olds don't like five quick stops in and out of stores. Browsing in the toy aisle is not advised and will end in the two year old climbing out of the cart and running after Thomas the Train and bouncy balls. Don't pick the candy lane at check out because your two year old will handle (and break) all the Twix bars and the five year old will sniff every last pack of gum. At the fabric store you relent to the cart battle and let the kids play amongst the fabric as you search for red satin. When you can't find the two year old, check the batman fleece. He will be hiding under it, giggling. At the Post Office, the two year old will take off his jacket at least 10 times and cry because he wants it, "On! On! On!" The only reason you are in the post office is to send another Express Mail package to the USCIS because you actually forgot to sign it the first time!

Driving home, you actually start to see humor in the whole escapade. You remember how quickly you slid by an older couple in the Dollar General as Clark tapped the lady on the back and said very loudly (with reindeer antlers on his head), "Ho, Ho."

At home, you are greeted by the morning mess, still not picked up. The dog snatched a stick of butter from the counter which was softening for cookies. You decide that the day needs a start over. You get into jammies and slippers and sip tea. The kids might think you've lost it, but you are reminded of all the work you have to do and you should probably get up early tomorrow because today didn't go as planned.

The Christmas Orange

In the very early 1800’s, a young boy about 14 years old named John lived in an orphanage in Old England along with several other children. Orphanages were dreaded. Orphan meant unwanted and unloved. The orphanage was administered by a master and his wife who were results of meager backgrounds themselves and were short on love but high on discipline. No childlike play, no expression of compassion, no understanding.

Every day of the year was spent working. They worked in gardens, cleaned, sewed, and cooked sometimes for wealthy children. They were up at dawn and worked until dark and usually received only one meal a day. However, they were very grateful because they were taught to be hard workers. John had absolutely nothing to call his own. None of the children did.

Christmas was the one day of the year when the children did not work and received a gift. A gift for each child - something to call their own. This special gift was an orange. John had been in the orphanage long enough to look forward with delight and anticipation of this special day of Christmas and to the orange he would receive. In Old England, and to John and his orphan companions, an orange was a rare and special gift. It had an unusual aroma of something they smelled only at Christmas. The children prized it so much that they kept it for several days, weeks, and even months - protecting it, smelling it, touching it and loving it. Usually they tried to savor and preserve it for so long that it often rotted before they ever peeled it to enjoy the sweet juice.

Many thoughts were expressed this year as Christmas time approached. The children would say, “I will keep mine the longest.” They always talked about how big their last orange was and how long they had kept it.

John usually slept with his next to his pillow. He would put it right by his nose and smell of its goodness, holding it tenderly and carefully as not to bruise it. He would dream of children all over the world smelling the sweet aroma of oranges. It gave him security and a sense of well being, hope and dreams of a future filled with good food and a life different from this meager existence.

This year John was overjoyed by the Christmas season. He was becoming a man. He knew he was becoming stronger and soon he would be old enough to leave. He was excited by this anticipation and excited about Christmas. He would save his orange until his birthday in July. If he preserved it very carefully, kept it cool and did not drop it, he might be able to eat it on his birthday.

Christmas day finally came. The children were so excited as they entered the big dining hall. John could smell the unusual aroma of meat. In his excitement and because of his oversized feet, he tripped, causing a disturbance. Immediately the master roared, “John, leave the hall and there will be no orange for you this year.” John’s heart broke violently wide open. He began to cry. He turned and went swiftly back to the cold room and his corner so the small children would not see his anguish.

Then he heard the door open and each of the children entered. Little Elizabeth with her hair falling over her shoulders, a smile on her face, and tears in her eyes held out a piece of rag to John. “Here John,” she said, “this is for you.” John was touched by her youth and innocence as he reached for the bulge in her hand. As he lifted back the edges of the rag he saw a big juicy orange all peeled and quartered. . . and then he realized what they had done. Each had sacrificed their own orange by sharing a quarter and had created a big, beautiful orange for John.

John never forgot the sharing, love and personal sacrifice his friends had shown him that Christmas day. John’s beginning was a meager existence, however, his growth to manhood was rewarded by wealth and success.

In memory of that day every year he would send oranges all over the world to children everywhere. His desire was that no child would ever spend Christmas without a special Christmas fruit!

author, unknown

35 Years

I had a wonderful birthday yesterday spent with friends and family. I reminisced on how I've changed over the years and also how I really haven't changed a bit. I wonder as I am truly trying to enjoy this holiday season how next year might be different or if I will still be waiting, wondering and praying for our little one far away. I am more mindful of all my blessings this year. Thankful for the people, and circumstances of my life.

Right now, I am...

:: living in a world of Christmas mess.

:: feeling rather motherly and proud of my little girl who often times leaves me speechless.

:: thinking often of our little boy living far away.

:: letting go of all the other garden beds I wanted to create before the snow fell, and the garlic I wanted to plant. Oh well...next year.

:: wondering how many games of Guess Who those two can play today.

:: listening to the kids win BIG as they play Monopoly.

:: savoring the sound of two-year old mumble jumble.

:: preparing for a trip to the city for fingerprinting.

:: sewing a lot of capes.

:: savoring the Christmas season

:: loving my new found calmness toward the very hectic holiday season.

:: wishing you a very peaceful week ahead. 

December Gifts

So it is December 1st. I've ordered our Christmas card, started some shopping and thought about baking and decorating. I tragically feel very behind. I am ashamed to admit, each year I spend the Christmas season feeling overwhelmed, overspent, and less than enthusiastic. I begin counting down the days of the season to come to an end because the guilt of not being able to fulfill every keepsake moment becomes too much. 


Today, after being handed the book, One Thousand Gifts, I decided to make a profound change. Instead of grasping to the pride that I can do it ALL, I will embrace "a lifestyle of radical gratitude; and slow down and catch God in the moment." Sounds too good to be true? 


I accept the challenge.