Friends

22 December 2017

A VIEW OF CHRISTMAS


  
The scene beyond the rustic garden gate was like a Christmas card. Outside the ivy laden cottage a robin was perched in a holly bush. A recent snowfall covered the thatched roof like oddly shaped clumps of cotton wool. Leaded light windows reflected the orange flames from the fire. Beneath those windows, a wooden wheelbarrow filled with logs.  The bare beech tree looked strangely out of place, dull brown when everything else was highly coloured. The cottage door, as red as the holly berries, was adorned by a festive wreath. The door was ajar and inside could be seen a Swedish Pine of mammoth proportions ablaze with twinkling lights. And the aroma that emanated from within was of turkey, slowly roasting.
   
In the snow-packed lane, an elderly itinerant peered over the boundary hedge, white unkempt hair wafting skywards in the biting wind. With ice-cold fingers he smoothed it over his crown then pulled his shabby grey coat closer to his chest. The motions were entirely mechanical for he was truly not  conscious of the cold. He had no need of fires or Christmas fare, for his soul was warmed through with love for Jesus, who kept him safe and whose birthday they shared.



15 comments:

  1. What a wonderful view giving us the true meaning of Christmas, I love this post. Thank you Valerie.

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  2. Thank you, Jimmy. It doesn't hurt to be reminded amidst all the hoo-hah of present buying and over-eating.

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  3. Beautiful, Valerie. Absolutely beautiful! And I agree with you in your comment to Jimmy...it's good to be reminded amidst all the hoo-ha of present buying and over-eating, the true meaning of Christmas.

    Thanks so much for sharing, dear friend!

    Wishing you and Charlie a very Merry Christmas!

    Cheers and love to you both!

    X

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  4. Ron,I spend eleven months doing my own thing and then comes the most important month of the year. It is only right that I thank the Lord for getting me through and what better time to do it than now?

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  5. Have a lovely Christmas Valerie.

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  6. Great writing as usual and the photo is beautiful.

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  7. As always Valerie you can write a beautiful scene and give it real meaning... Thank you. and Merry Christmas

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  8. Thank you, Larry. Hope you have a wonderful Christmas in your new home.

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  9. Christmas greetings to you, too, TB. I tried to keep this one short but still have meaning.

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  10. Lovely photo and words. I hope you have a wonderful Christmas Valerie.

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  11. Merry after Christmas Valerie as I am just catching up on blog reading. Thank you for your comments on my recent blog posts. All were much appreciated, as always.

    I am just now starting to catch up on reading post of fellow bloggers and this one was one of the loveliest I've read. It's so true that many become overtaken by consumerism and forget about the true meaning of Christmas -- it's not what's in your hand, but what's in your heart.

    This year, we were away from late November until just a week before Christmas and were not on vacation, but had stops in several states to check on a house we're still hoping to sell, visit with a few friend and celebrate a granddaughter's 1st birthday. We decorated a couple of days before the 25th on a snowy day here in NH. We had a wonderful time just being together and in our own place to celebrate for the first time in several years. Our gift giving was only to the grandchildren and a couple of modest gifts for friends because that isn't what it's all about.

    I have so enjoyed your posts, Valerie, as well as your comments on my own. Thank you my blogger friend. Sending best wishes to you for a very wonderful and Happy New Year.

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  12. Beatrice, you are so busy yet you seem to enjoy it all. I had forgotten what it was like to be busy! Thank you for your lovely comment. Happy New Year to you and your family.

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  13. Your writing is simply exquisite. Thank you so much for sharing this and for your visit to Marmelade Gypsy.

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  14. Jeanie, thank you. I hope to publish more in the new year, it's a watch this space situation.

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