There’s Nothing Mysterious About It!

Here is a puzzle that’s easy to solve; in fact, there’s nothing mysterious about it. What event will come around in 45 more days? It arrives every year, same time. Christmas is just around the corner and I haven’t started my shopping! Have you?

How about a book as a gift? Would you like to get one? Do you know someone who would love to have one or a whole set? Books never wear out, one size fits all, and they offer lasting enjoyment. If you haven’t yet looked at the Southern Writers Gift Catalog, click on the link and go take a peek. I think you’ll like what you see. http://bit.ly/SWHC2017 . 

Yesterday, instead of thinking about gifts, I selfishly went shopping for myself–at Hobby Lobby. I’ve never used inks in painting gourds but I wanted to try them, so I got only two bottles. I’m painting autumn leaves on a bottle-shaped gourd and if I don’t finish soon, fall will be over and the gourd will look out of season until next year.

Coming home, I decided to celebrate only one holiday at a time and since Thanksgiving is less than two weeks ago, I dug out my decorations. I pretty much do the same thing each year, but there is comfort in familiarity, don’t you think? The blocks are nearly fifty years old. They’ve been around a while. The cornucopia is one my sister Helen gave me many, many years ago. It was pre-printed and all I had to do was cut it out. Well, it was one of those things I appreciated, but kept putting off doing. Finally, several years ago, Sara and I cut it out, sewed it up, stuffed it to make it plump and inviting. Now, it’s one of those things I bring out each Thanksgiving and think of my sis as I put it up.

When you get right down to it, people, not gifts, are what make holidays special. Thanksgiving is more than turkey and dressing. It is commemorating the courageous Pilgrims who came here for religious freedom. And Christmas is not just another holiday, but the celebration of the birth of the Son of God. It will come, whether we give or receive gifts or not. Gifts are not the important thing about Christmas. It is made special by family and friends and by remembering the birth of Jesus.

There’s a wonderful feeling of warmth and closeness about the fall and winter holidays. That is a mystery in itself. Now, if we could only bottle the friendship and love and take it with us throughout the rest of the year!