The day after...

'Twas the day after Christmas and quiet in the house,
And only the dog was around, no sign of a mouse.
And though it was Monday, I did not to work go
For the powers that be had graciously said "No,
that will be one of your "Floating"days off."
And I, not to argue, did think it enough
To stay right at home, and it was a good thing.
My body and brain had kept up with a string
of the longest of days, and worries, and frights
That sometimes do come of not pacing one's nights.
Though all of the frolic indeed had its' place
My body had finally shut down the race.
Not once, but twice, it bade me go back
To my bed full of quilts for the sleep I did lack.
Of this I am sure. When I sleep in the day,
There is plenty of reason to be lazy that way.
I had other chores planned, but have learned o'er the years
When my heart takes a stand, I had better so hear
The warning, and heed what it begs me to do.
Peace of Christmas we should carrry the year through,
and rest should be part of the celebration, too.

I do send out my wish for us all to enjoy a bit of rest and peace before taking on 2012. I know that many had to go to their workplace today, and that in the fever of after-Christmas sales, returns, etc., peace may not have been the emotion encountered. Our world is a difficult place, and not nearly so simple as a manger, but I am infinitely grateful for the One who has shone the light on the difficult times of my life - and wish that others may come to know it as well.

"This is my box...This is my box..." - Amahl and the Night Visitors

It's a sad and somewhat telling tale that one can go into a store of most any kind before Halloween, and see Christmas merchandise being added to the displays. We exclaim that every year, this seems to happen earlier and earlier, and for parents of young children, it all becomes a form of nightmare because the hype begins and our children are drawn in no matter how hard we might try to forestall the inevitable.

There is an important thing to remember in all of this. Remember that one of the most treasured of gifts is simply...the box. Have you ever watched a child in the presence of a such a glorious thing as a box with a lid, or just flaps that go up and down and fold in on each other? And the imagination spurred by a box large enough to hide in? And if there happens to be wrappping paper around to stuff in said box, all the better. When the child is so overstimulated as to not be able to contain his behavior any longer, what a remarkable gift it is to be able to tuck himself away inside a box with his own creative senses transforming that container into a plane or train or race car or princess room or who knows what. Maybe just a quiet, cozy spot for a nap.

If only we could all just re-discover the wonder of a box, right?
(To understand the title of the post, visit the link below.)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAZlS9ZogQE&feature=related