I’ve competed all the decorations for the Christmas season. Cookie plates for my neighbors have been chosen and recipes are abundant. Currently, I am making apple butter for one of my kind neighbors who brought over Fisherman’s Stew a few weeks ago. It was extremely delicious and came at the most appropriate day and time, since on that day, I was bombarded with so much to complete.
As always, gifts for this season are homemade. Scarves, mittens, warm hats, dolls, jewelry, aprons, lotions, soaps, woodworking projects, baked and canned goods; all gifts requested by friends. Mostly, I start fiber arts in the early part of the year so not to feel overwhelmed come Christmastime.
It is tradition in my Conservative Quaker (CQ) faith to typically share homemade gifts. In Colorado, I don’t have a CQ community and rely on social media to stay connected to the brethren of my belief. At times, it can get lonely not having this spiritual home in my backyard. Yet, I manage through my participation within other Christian traditions. And, friends in other Christian paths allow me to express my own throughout the year. I especially like to share its simple roots at this season.
With the final gifts being made and others already wrapped and placed under the tree, there still reside in me, a sense of anxiousness. As I sat in thought in the early part of this morning, I settled that this feeling may stem from my quiet observation of the people of what I’ve dubbed ‘the commercial season’. This group will break the speed limit to find the best deals, they will quarrel with other consumers when standing in checkout lines, and they will cut me off in the parking lot, just to get the closest spot. They are quite interesting to watch as I try to make sense of it all.
Every year I hope for regulated characters. The kind that are not influenced by outer lights, Santa Claus, and by the colors red and green. I long for each person to recognize the Light within, the Son of God, the spirited interior, to know the fervent power of why we celebrate, and the true foundation of Jesus’ spiritual wisdom. To clasp this time of rebirth, as is significant to the birth of Our Savior, Christ Jesus. To celebrate each year as Children of God! I assert, there’s nothing in the malls, on Amazon.com, or any other retailer that can top this lineage. How precious we are to be on the receiving end of such greatness!
The Christmas season is the principal doorway to slowing down, to sing more hallelujahs, to hug so tightly, to express love, joy, and peace, to be kind to our fellow mankind, to be generous, to donate to a cause we believe in, to say I love you over and over again, to spend time with friends who long for wholesome moments, to allow His love to abide with and in us, and to sing and praise Him without ceasing. These perfect things are sufficient. Let’s be the sunbeam of the Son. Let’s prove His birth worthy to extend patience, harmony, and delight. Let’s know the simple and generous point of His foundation.
Adapted from the Shaker Faith, CQs and other Quaker sects, often sing this song at Christmastime. We sing this to remain humble. We sing this to remember why we celebrate. We sing this to breathe in His peace.
Simple Gifts
Jesus is the most precious gift of the season. When we come to realize and concede to the experience of Him, life can be so much more satisfying, calmer, and brighter. He is the Light of the World. And with Him, you can Light the world. The Apostle Matthew tells us this through Jesus’ eloquent words.
“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
May His light be manifested in you.
It brings me great pleasure to plan a humble Christmas. And, to offer my own form of simple gifts to the people I love. I hope that the ripples I have created through this brief essay is comforting to you. May you find the light within to guide you this season. And, as we say in my Quaker faith, I hold the light for you!
My prayer:
Father in this season of waiting with eager anticipation for the birth of your son Christ Jesus, please wash me with the vastness of your love. Offer up more grace to instill patience in me. Allow me to refrain from unnecessary talk when I am cut-off in parking lots (Sigh.. this is a tough one! But Father I will try 🙂 ) Father, your pure spirit is unsoiled and your gifts are limitless. I do so appreciate your most precious Present born on Christmas day. He comes to show me the way. Even when I stray…Yet, Father I will stay in the ray of your love, always.
Your loving daughter,
Charlotte