GIVE YOUR BEST.
LIVE YOUR BEST.
Please Read: “Night Before Christmas” Robert’s Version Below!
Affirmations:
I love to love and celebrate Love.
I shine the Light within me.
Sharing the Light and Love is a gift to me everyday.
I give the Love I Am with every thought I have, word I say and deed I do.
Remember The Light in You.
We each see the holiday of 'Christ Mass' in our own tradition, beliefs and understanding.
We practice de-light with giving Love and gifts and celebration this time of year.
We each are on our own journey of remembrance and awakening the Light within us.
We may have glimpses in how love works with a child’s innocence, a sweet connection or gentle hug.
We can be reminded with scriptural reminders, a candle-lighting ceremony or songs of joy.
With a hymn of gratitude, people sharing a meal or Christmas gifts, we can awaken to the real inner Light.
Light, energy, creation, giving, consciousness, all live within us.
Light or our creative energy is our gift of Love from God, Creator, the Universe and Great Mystery.
I know we all have different beliefs.
I know we all celebrate in different ways.
I know what causes joy to some may bring up unhappy memories to others.
We have the choice to rejoice or grieve in our loneliness.
Traditions can be changed and rearranged.
What used to be celebration with a united family may now be juggling many people or no one to care.
From divorce, aging and death, rejection and abandonment, there may be separation and depression.
Consider creating your own family celebration with others just like you.
So what do I do?
Plan to have enlightened connections and conversations each day of the year.
Consider what you want to do and invite others to join you.
Reach out to someone who has no one and make them feel welcomed and loved.
Find what works best for you.
Watch a show on television to inspire you.
Bring some extra cheer to those working on Christmas Day.
Take a neighbor some homemade goodies or hot meal.
Sing favorite songs or carols aloud with happy past memories.
Make phone calls to friends and family you haven’t seen in years.
Visit a nursing home on Christmas day to share joy with staff and residents.
Write cards of Gratitude and Love to those you miss.
It takes so little to do so much.
Everyone can benefit from your prayers.
Everyone will feel the caring in your sharing.
Everyone will know the love you are giving.
Each human being has value.
Everyone deserves to know their worth.
Continue to love all, beginning with you.
Be kind to others today and everyday and you will know the Light in You.
Loving you as I receive your Love for me and all,
Betty Lue
The Night Before Christmas
T'was the night before Christmas and all through the earth
Was the light of love shining, a holy new birth.
Forgiveness completed, all judgments aside,
My conscience was clear with no hint of pride.
My worries behind me (I'd put them to bed)
While visions so heavenly danced in my head.
The job and the family, all routine, a snap.
Unaware, I was into a spiritual nap.
When out of the calm, there arose such a clatter.
My life was unsettled. Now what was the matter.
Away from my habits I flew like a flash.
I threw off attachments, and then came the crash.
The feeling was alien, nothing the same.
I couldn't describe it or give it a name.
When what to my wondering eye should appear
But a blaze of white light, and coming so near,
With a little old angel so lively and quick
I knew in a moment, I was going to be sick.
More rapid than eagles his values they came
And he whistled and shouted and called them by name:
"More honesty, tolerance, gentleness, trust,
Faithful and generous, with patience a must.
To topple defenses and breach the fear wall
Now dash away, smash away, drop away all."
As just as the leaves in a hurricane swirl,
Or a dancer will leap or will jump or will twirl,
So up in the air all the pieces they flew
And I felt when I looked, I'd see everything new.
And then in a twinkling, I felt with a start,
The growing and glowing, expanding my heart.
As I came to my senses and was turning around
I saw in the mirror an image profound.
He was bathed in bright light from his head to his toe
(His clothes were quite common so no one would know)
The weight of the world had just dropped from his back
And he danced like a peddler devoid of his pack.
He moved and he walked with a sense of great ease.
His lack of self-judgment made him easy to please.
The smile of his mouth was the shape of a bow,
It would light up a crowd wherever he'd go.
His relative silence bespoke inner peace
Letting all in his presence experience release.
He had a bright face and a happy, strong laugh
Which touches the heart, cuts resistance in half.
He was loving and kind, a right jolly old elf
And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself.
A wink of his eye and a nod of his head
Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread.
He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work.
He listened within (a somewhat strange quirk).
But touching his hand to the side of my face
We joined, became one, with no distance or space.
I knew in that moment just what my gift was
To love all of my brothers, with no "why" or "because".
And I'm here to exclaim, as I grow in Love's light,
Merry Christmas to all, it will turn out all right.
Adapted by Robert Waldon