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!