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josephine-wall-fantasy-paintings.co.uk
“Christmas waves a magic wand over this world, and behold, everything is softer and more beautiful. ”
― Norman Vincent Peale
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image from http://www.besthomever.com
“I know what I really want for Christmas.
I want my childhood back.
Nobody is going to give me that. I might give at least the memory of it to myself if I try. I know it doesn’t make sense, but since when is Christmas about sense, anyway? It is about a child, of long ago and far away, and it is about the child of now. In you and me. Waiting behind the door of or hearts for something wonderful to happen. A child who is impractical, unrealistic, simpleminded and terribly vulnerable to joy.”
― Robert Fulghum, All I Really Need to Know I Learned in Kindergarten
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The Christmas of times past seems to have vanished like the snow from my door. Snow is never likely to fall in front of my door again, but it really has only a small part to play in the changes in Christmas. I would that I could offer everyone the intense joy and happiness I knew with each and every Christmas. The fact that it has changed for me is a matter of great dismay. The fact that it has changed for so many others is daunting.
As a child I knew so much happiness and excitement as Christmas drew close. It wasn’t for the fact that the stores were filled with toys and lollies and Christmas decorations. It was for the joy and wonder my parents and grandparents created each day leading up to Christmas day. I was fortunate that the shops didn’t put out the decorations, cards and toys until much closer to Christmas. The unique ‘specialness’ of Christmas had not been inundated with the bombardment of the commercialism of Christmas. It yet held that special air of magic. The pleasure of a nativity calendar!
I remember one year, being so convinced that my parents had to be helping Santa by hiding our gifts somewhere at home. After all he couldn’t really get them all round the world to every boy and girl on Christmas Eve, could he? I searched the house from top to bottom (I was very excited). I found nothing of course. My parents knew me well – they had hidden everything at my Nanny’s since she lived next door. It was a thrilling time none the less.
I remember when I was old enough to start sending Christmas cards to my friends. It was a sign, an indication that I was getting older and able to understand the real meaning behind Christmas. It meant, to me at least, that Christmas was a time for family, and for friends, and more than that for everyone I met. It was a time to share happiness, even if it was only a smile or a card.
image from theearthconstitution.org
I remember when my children were born and the excitement I felt when I gave them cards and gifts. I remember the fun we had as we made up Christmas hampers for the Salvos and for the RSPCA. I remember with a sigh, when they too became old enough to want to give their friends Christmas cards. Yet, in what feels like a few short years later the world itself has changed. Somehow, Christmas has lost some of its magic and sparkle and we are the poorer for it.
People no longer want to send cards, if you are very fortunate you might get an e card. I haven’t yet found a way to hang it up though. What does that card mean? To me it meant that I cared about the person I was sending it to; I was thinking about them even if I couldn’t see or speak with them on Christmas day – or perhaps over the few days of Christmas. So a card, especially when money was tight, was a true gift of the heart to say…I miss you and I wish you all the best and that you were here. We made cards which held a stronger magic of love.
The other day I heard someone refer to themselves as an orphan and having an ‘Orphan Christmas’ because their parents had divorced. I felt so saddened by that. I thought of all the children who have never had parents, are living on the streets, or whose parents have passed away and therefore cannot have any part of the physical Christmas with them. I understand, I think, what they meant, but I couldn’t stop the tears forming, as I thought of the fact that my parents were no longer here, my brothers not speaking with me and my children unable to visit this year. I was selfish, I know, but the words hit like a barb bringing all the other barbs to play.
What hit the hardest was knowing that this move from giving Christmas cards means that I don’t even have the joy of a card to say – Yes, they are thinking of me. There is a part of them here too. Of course, they are in my heart, but I have to wonder why people are so reluctant to spend a few dollars sending a card. What has happened to the feeling and magic of Christmas?
image from http://www.fotos-bonitas.com –
Oh, I know, its expensive sending cards today, and if you are giving someone a gift why spend a few extra dollars on a card? Better yet, why send a card when the postage costs more than the card? Perhaps it’s the thought, why send a card at all, we don’t see or hear from them most of the year? Somehow this just sounds like excuses or miserly thinking. (To me). The Christmas Spirit seems to be vanishing, or has the Christmas Grinch caught up with most people?
I am often heard wishing for snow at Christmas, the feel of the crisp air and the crunch of snow underfoot. The robins and tinsel, mistletoe and fairy lights. My mother’s fantastic Christmas tree decorated, which eclipse mine to this day, I can never see again, except in my memory. The paper decorations we all made as children – do you remember the strips of coloured paper, we glued one end to make a circle, then added more? Paper chains, we had a houseful one year. 🙂 I have beautiful cross stitch ornaments and sequin balls made at school by my children. Yet there is a hollow feeling in my heart. The Christmas magic is being stolen.
image from http://www.pilgrimshospices.org
If I was allowed only one Christmas wish I would give it to – all of you. I would wish you; a Christmas filled with joy and magic, the excitement of family or friends, or someone who cared, to make your Christmas special. If I could I would make sure that everyone received at least one Christmas card, with wishes for a safe and happy Christmas, filled with love and that you would all return safe and sound in the New Year.
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Wherever you are, my wish is that you receive the joy and magic from my heart to yours. That you feel the love and happiness of Christmas, of time shared however briefly together.
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This, is my Christmas Calling to You.
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Blessings, Susan x
© Susan Jamieson 2013
Owls and Orchids 
Christmas wishes accepted with the grace and love that it was given, and returned to you in truth, as I believe in what this time means with all it’s magic, the giving, the laughter and the love all around. I realised within that I can be in that space and be that magic, be that happiness and give from that place. I now create my Christmas, and all other times, by stepping into my truth, and not being led into it by expectations from others, or my own, as it no longer comes from within. So music on, tree up, decorations out, and feel what is inside you and what it means to you. Believe in your truth for their is none more loving than that.
May the memory of your past Christmas’s always be with you, but most of all, may the magic that is in your heart envelop you with the love that comes from within.
Merry Christmas Susan and thank you for the blessings of your blog that I read and admire for the beauty that they create (my Christmas present). Love and light, namaste. x
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I truly wish it could be that easy. I admire your ability to accept all life has and make it your own. Your phrase “believe in your truth”… I wish I could tell you exactly what mine is. Perhaps it is the full moon or the summer solstice… perhaps it simply is the time of year, but I find it more difficult with the passing of time, and in acknowledging that, fight all the harder to preserve the external shell which says” nothing is wrong” –
Forgive me, melancholy is best kept to ones self.
May you enjoy the festive season and find blessings all round you. Peace, joy and hugs. Susan x
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Melancholy has it’s purpose, as everything else does, to teach and learn the path to unconditional love. I wished to be able to heal the pain in all those hearts around me, not realising that the universe would do just that because I was truly coming from a deep, caring place in my heart. (And I wanted to do this because of what I felt going through my life, I didn’t want others to feel the pain as I did). Little did I know that spirit took me at my word and showed me how to be able to do that. By going through ‘my’ fears so that I would truly ‘know’ the journey and so could heal from that place.
As you would be well aware…those walls of my fears were built with some serious brickwork. BUT, at the end of each and every fear that I trod, I could see more and more truth within AND what was underneath everything. And a couple of ‘events’ that I was given so that I understood the beauty of what I was and just how we are spiritually connected, allowed me to release all those fears, those judgements and a myriad of other things that just don’t matter in the scheme of things. Yes, we have to feel and understand our journey, but it is in understanding that truth and love within by admitting and going through our fears that it all falls away, and we find our truth and can really ‘see’ for the first time.
I still can trip over and get a bloody nose…I’m human still…but within that body is the most beautiful creature. And it is inside us all, guiding, caring and loving us unconditionally. It is that hard, tough journey and the coming out the other end that creates that understanding of unconditional love. Our Higher Selves/God/Universe that help us through that, with so much love, even though it feels like the horror’s of hell, to finally bring us home to that love within.
I don’t get out of anything just because I understand, but it is because I understand that I can let everything go because of the love that I know it is given with, even under the most trying of circumstances.
Sorry, spirit fired me up a bit to express this, I hope it is of help for YOUR journey and brings a little more peace to your heart. I know your journey is a tough one and I truly do not know it’s pain, but with all the love I know is here, within us and without, I give my love and understanding to you so that it may make your path a little easier.
Love, light and blessings for this beautiful time Susan, and I do hope that it will bring a little smile and comfort to you.
Namaste xo
P.S. I may have to post this (I’ll adjust the references to you), as it is an important piece of the (my) puzzle! Is that ok?
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Thank yo for the time taken to reply – of course I have no objection to you using the material as needed, name withheld of course. ,
Very tired – please accept my apology for the brevity of the response,.
Blessings, Susan x
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I sometimes long for that magical feeling of Christmases past. I miss the community I belonged to and I miss my grandparents. The Christmas tradition of sending cards is still alive and well here. I think my mother-in-law single handedly keeps it going! I do like getting the photo cards people send.
May some of the magic of Christmas find its way into your life this year.
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Thanks Trisha. I sometimes wonder if it’s having only brothers which made the difference after our parents passed, and now my ‘children’ are grown… who knows.
Thank you, magic is always welcome. Susan x
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Lovely Susan, thanks for the walk down memory lane.
Laurie. xx
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I think you really captured both the old feelings we all seem to have had about Christmas and that spirit, and what is missing now. Well done… I miss it too…
Ray XXX
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So well put Susan, I miss the magic too! I still send out cards we really only receive 2 or 3 in return but it doesn’t matter, I’ll continue to send out my Christmas greetings anyway. I do think that commercialism has really robbed us of a lot of the magic and with everyone struggling to make ends meet the focus seems to be on “where I can get that gift at the best price”, or “what can I get that will top the gift I gave last year”. Somewhere along the way we tend to leave the true meaning of the season by the wayside.
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I agree, what is more disturbing is that our children have to work harder at it, if they want to, because they don’t remember everything as well as we do (at least as well as this oldie) 😉 I’ve just decided being ill is bad for you health and well being… it makes you more “meh” as my daughter says. I need am egg nog. Now that would do the trick.
Have a wonderful festive season… I may take a day or two off… heavens will that feel strange!
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