Christmas In One Week!

What? Next Thursday? How can that be? I heard on the news this morning that 41 million people haven't started their Christmas shopping! How do "they" know? I guess I would fit into the haven't started category, but sssshhhhhhhhh! we're not telling are we? I'm still trying to get the fabulous glow of the Christmas lights on the Christmas tree captured through the lens of the camera.
I don't want to be caught up in the stress and drama that makes Christmas a time for dread. Daddy carved several of these wooden spoons. He called them "Swedish Love Spoons". I was fortunate enough to receive one of them from him. It reminds me to take life a bite at the time, and fill it with love.
Can you see that tiny folded bit of lace behind the gold beads? I know it is kinda blurry isn't it? Several years ago I opened a letter from mother. This 6 inch fragment of lace fell from the page as I opened it. In the letter she said that she had found this piece of lace somewhere and she was just sending it on to me because she knew I would love it. Yes! I loved it then and I still do. I folded it into a bow and placed it into the keepsake tree. A friend's teenage daughters told their mom that they wanted to give me their grandma's rose pin because they knew I would love it! Yes, I loved it then and I still do. I pinned it to mother's lace. These are such small things but filled with a spoonful of love one bite at a time.

I want to appropriately express the love I have in my heart for others. Love is not necessarily expressed in the big and colorful gifts quickly purchased at the last minute. Those gifts can truly be an expression of love, but across the years I've learned that many times it is the small things that show love...expressions of concern, a small remembrance, a caring hug, a kind word, an apology to a spouse or children for words harshly spoken in haste.

So if your are scurrying around finishing up Christmas shopping with the other 41 million, I hope you will still have time to savor the sights and sounds of the season, the laughter and the small bite size blessings that come your way.

Love, Rachel