Among the sea of greeting cards, I was struck by the image of this card because of what it represented to me; a freedom and openess to the wonder of life, a display of joy that can only flow from the singing heart of a child. And off to left, is that a snow angel, a further sign of the liberted heart, or is it the image of the peaceful dove? I'll let you decide for yourself.
Strangley enough though, in a season filled with snow, beautiful Christmas tales, pageants and carols, this card reminds me of the Irish Proverb:
Strangley enough though, in a season filled with snow, beautiful Christmas tales, pageants and carols, this card reminds me of the Irish Proverb:
"Dance as if no one's watching, sing as if no one's listening,
and live everyday as if it were your last".
In the silence of your heart, recall a time when life was much simpler;
imagine yourself as a child, full of wonder, joyfully playing in the snow, with a song in your heart. Maybe you were alone, maybe you were with a group of people... Rest in that joy, this is the spirit of Christmas.
For many, this image of themselves has long passed. For others, the joy of this child was something that they could only wish for, and never experienced for themselves.
If you find you are having difficulty imagining yourself as this child and sharing in his joy,
I invite you to ask yourself:
"When did the music stop?"
"When did you stop dancing?"
"When did you stop singing?"
"When did you stop wondering?"
The answers may surprise you; the length of time that the music has been silenced, the dances that have been sat out, the songs that were on your lips but never sung, and how much of life that has passed you by from the inability to wonder any longer.
Know that the music has not gone away, it just cannot be heard.
It is still playing in the depths of your heart and needs to be
re-birthed;
It is the music that only a child knows how to play,
it is the dance that only a child knows the steps,
it is the song that only a child knows the words;
it is the Wonder of the Birth of the Christ Child.
This year, invite the Child to be re-born within you!
I invite you to ask yourself:
"When did the music stop?"
"When did you stop dancing?"
"When did you stop singing?"
"When did you stop wondering?"
The answers may surprise you; the length of time that the music has been silenced, the dances that have been sat out, the songs that were on your lips but never sung, and how much of life that has passed you by from the inability to wonder any longer.
Know that the music has not gone away, it just cannot be heard.
It is still playing in the depths of your heart and needs to be
re-birthed;
It is the music that only a child knows how to play,
it is the dance that only a child knows the steps,
it is the song that only a child knows the words;
it is the Wonder of the Birth of the Christ Child.
This year, invite the Child to be re-born within you!
Merry Christmas Everyone !
"Give me the heart of a child and the awesome courage to live it out"
Catherine Doherty
*Christmas Card from AbbeyPress.com
Catherine Doherty
*Christmas Card from AbbeyPress.com
