Blessed Among Women

 A Christmas card from a church friend had a piece of green paper enclosed.  It was a reflection of Elizabeth's telling pregnant Mary that she was blessed among women.  

All of us women need this reminder, no matter what we tell ourselves or what others may tell us, or have told us

And so I am telling my women readers today, "You are blessed among women." 

Tuesday's PT led to a very sore Wednesday.  Thursday the therapist took out the squats we had added, and today the day-after is better.  I can move ahead with the exercises.

And today was the first normal-feeling day in a long time.  I could cook a simple meal, which I enjoy, and wash the dishes later.  I could focus enough to work on a jig saw puzzle.  In a few minutes,  I'll turn on the sewing machine, enjoy its computerized sound, and sew a few simple blocks together.

I'm so happy to be able to read in bed again at the end of the day.  It's one of my pleasures.  During the really painful times there was nothing left of me at bedtime to be able to concentrate on the words.  I'm not reading anything "heavy," just enjoying those mindless Christmas novels.

If the books' plots seem to run together, that's ok, I don't mind, I just skim along.

The Work of Christmas

 

The Work of Christmas

When the star in the sky is gone,

When the song of the angels is stilled,

When the kings and princes are home,

When the shepherds are back with their flocks,

The work of Christmas begins.

            To find the lost,

        To heal the broken,

        To feed the hungry,

        To release the prisoner,

        To rebuild the nations,

        To bring peace among the people,

        To make music in the heart.

                                                       by Howard Thurman     

The star above was a Christmas gift.  It arrived folded, made of stiff paper, and is lighted.  It will remain in the window for a long time,  reminding me of the poem, which stays relevant year after year.

            

Not Yet

 

Social media has been full of posts describing friends' taking down their Christmas trees, packing away decorations, starting fresh for the new year.

Not me, not yet.  I'm still enjoying the tree, loving the lights and ornaments.  There will come a time in a couple of weeks when I'll take off the ornaments and pack them in their little boxes but still leave the lighted tree in place until more toward the end of January.  

I don't need the space, no one is telling me it's time to pack it away, I'm happy for now.

The news from New Orleans is hard to hear.  All those people, enjoying themselves, never thinking that in a moment they would be dead or hurting.  They weren't carrying guns, probably, or looking for a fight, just out celebrating a happy night of the year.  Enjoying their friends, enjoying the city.