Twelfth Day of Christmas

♫Joy to the World♫

On the twelfth day of Christmas I give to my true loves:

The gift of Joy

Just for today celebrate the gift of a relationship with God through Jesus Christ.  This is the greatest gift you can give your loved ones.   If you truly do this, you will want to celebrate not just for today, but everyday.

May Peace, Love & Joy be yours today and always.

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Take Joy!

Eleventh Day of Christmas

♫Silent Night♫

On the eleventh day of Christmas I give to my true loves:

The gift of Peaceful Surroundings

There's something about a crackling fire that brings peace to my inner world.  Perhaps it touches on some ancient memory of being warmed by a fire when it was a matter of life and death.  Just for today do what you have to do to make your surroundings peaceful.....even if it's just your inner world.

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Take Joy!

Tenth Day of Christmas

♫I Wonder As I Wander♫

On the tenth day of Christmas I gave to my true loves:

The gift of Wonder

The gift of wonder is what keeps us young.  Once you think you know it all what is left to live for?  Just for today find someone who needs reminding of this and take them for a wander through nature.  Help them to see things they've never seen before and to ask questions.  Or go outside after dark and look to the sky and wonder what the shepherds saw that very special night long ago in Bethlehem.


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Take Joy!

Ninth Day of Christmas

♫Up on the Housetop♫

On the ninth day of Christmas I gave my true loves:

The gift of Surprise

When my children were very little it was easy to surprise them on Christmas morning.  They would get a few things they asked for, but also other things they didn't know about.  As they got older it got harder for me to figure out what they might like, so I just stuck to their list.  That's when I started adding a different element of surprise to their gifts:  clues as to where to FIND their gifts.  Sometimes I'd write the clues in rhyme.  Other times they'd be given a clue to where to find the next clue and so on, until they eventually found their gifts.  Even now I will sometimes hide one of their gifts or leave it for their stockings.  You have three days to think of a way to surprise your family this Christmas.  Come back here after Christmas and tell us what you did!

This is what I did in 2003.  My boys were 24, 21, and 16.  I read them the story, then gave them their clues (click on to enlarge). . . .

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Take Joy!

Eighth Day of Christmas

♫We Wish You a Merry Christmas♫

On the eighth day of Christmas I gave to my true loves:

The gift of Communication

Hopefully, you've already sent out your Christmas cards by now, if that is your tradition.  I've always sent cards, but it's only been in recent years that I've tried to personalize them.  Newsletters have gotten a bad rap in my opinion.  Yes, they can become a form of "gloating" about our good fortunes.  But we all know there is always more to the story that isn't being shared because who wants to share the not-so-good news at Christmas.  So instead, I see them as a way to keep in touch with the folks who are not a regular part of my life.  I LOVE receiving others' news about their families, so I thought maybe others would like to hear what we've been up to as well.  Some years I even add a poem or a story just to personalize it a little bit more.  Just for today, even though your cards may already be in the mail by now, take a moment to share what's going on in your life with the people you come in contact with.  By sharing first, maybe they'll share with you when you ask, "So how's it going with you?"


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Take Joy!

Seventh Day of Christmas

♫Let It Snow♫

On the seventh day of Christmas I gave my true loves:

The gift of Beauty

We've only had snow on a couple Christmases here in Maryland.  So when we do, like we did on Christmas Eve 2012, it is even more beautiful than the snow we have later in the winter.  While you can't make it snow, just for today make a point of bringing something of beauty to someone's attention.  It may be the sunrise or sunset, a bird in a tree, a particularly delightful window display.  And there are always Christmas lights to admire in your community.  Why not make an evening of driving, or better yet, walking through a neighborhood or downtown with someone you love.

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Take Joy!

Sixth Day of Christmas

♫Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer♫

On the sixth day of Christmas I gave my true loves:

The gift of Good Cheer

I think animals are a great way to bring Good Cheer to others during the holidays.  My photo montage of Gabriel's first Christmas when he was six months old brings a smile to my face every time.  I was trying to capture him in my little Christmas scene for our Christmas card.  The four side photos are only a few of the photos I took before getting the final one in the center.  Just for today try to bring Good Cheer to someone's life that you know is feeling down.  Christmas can often be a sad time for people who have suffered loss this time of year.  It may be a phone call, a visit, or posting a fun photo of your pet on Facebook to bring a smile to someone's face.


P.S. Be sure to watch the video that comes with the song!

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Take Joy!

Fifth Day of Christmas

♫Away in the Manger♫

On the fifth day of Christmas I gave my true loves:

The gift of Tenderness

Sarah did not explain what she was thinking when she made her list of gifts so I am interpreting them from my own perspective.  When I think of giving the gift of tenderness I think:  understanding, compassion, forgiveness.  To me tenderness means making allowances for others' mistakes, inadequacies....even intentional unkindness.  It's meeting a harsh word with a kind word.  Everyone is under pressure this time of year.  Even if you are the one doing all the work, if you are stressed out about it, your loved ones are feeling it.  They may "check out" or "lash out."  Even if someone does not give you the gift of Tenderness, just for today try to give it to them.  They obviously need a great deal of it.  You can give them some of yours.


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Take Joy!

Fourth Day of Christmas

♫Here Comes Santa Claus♫

On the fourth day of Christmas I gave my true loves:

The gift of Simple Seasonal Pleasures

There was a time I resented the intrusion of the secular celebration of Christmas on the spiritual celebration--even though I'd grown up believing in Santa.  It was a great deal of fun as a child to anticipate the presents waiting for me Christmas morning.  My little brother would always be the first to awake, though, and come get me.  Perhaps he thought Big sister would make it OK to sneak into the living room before our parents woke up because then I'd get the blame.  With fond memories such as these I continued the Santa tradition with my children even as I felt guilty doing so.

Now, I believe that all of life is spiritual if you just move the veil aside.  I believe that God can be seen in all things, if we are looking from that perspective.  There are lessons to be learned and truths to be gained by enjoying the simple pleasures in life.  Just for today take the time to enJOY whatever the season has to offer with someone you love.


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Take Joy!

Third Day of Christmas

♫Good King Wensceslas♫

On the third day of Christmas I gave my true loves:

The gift of Creative Energy

Creative Energy can be anything that you've put some thought into.  It's that little extra--like dining by candlelight with soft music playing in the background.  It's making a handmade card for someone telling them you love them just for who they are.  Just for today take some time to do something out of the ordinary.

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Take Joy!

Second Day of Christmas

♫A Holly Jolly Christmas♫

On the second day of Christmas I gave my true loves:

The gift of Enthusiasm

Who better than a child to look to for enthusiasm.  Do you think just for today you could get as excited about something as simple as a ride in a wagon around the living room--and then share your enthusiasm with someone?


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Take Joy!

First Day of Christmas

♫All I Want for Christmas is You♫

On the first day of Christmas, I gave to my true loves:

The gift of my Undivided Attention

This one will not come naturally or easily during these last 12 days before Christmas if you still have shopping and baking and card writing and the million and one things on your list still yet to do.  But just for today any person or animal you come in contact with, give your undivided attention to them.


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Take Joy!

Twelve Days of Christmas

♫Twelve Days of Christmas♫

Sarah Ban Breathnach writes in Simple Abundance, "All those bright, pretty baubles blowing your budget are only symbols of the gifts you really long to give."  She says she knows "a one-size-fits-all gift that would be absolutely thrilling for everyone on your list:  the gift of yourself."

For the next 12 days leading up to Christmas I will be sharing each day one way Sarah says we can share ourselves.  It will cost you time, creative energy, and emotion, Sarah says, but the rewards will be well worth it.

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Take Joy!