Christmas Eve Blessings

The Jingle Cats - White Christmas - The funniest home videos are here

I heard the bells on Christmas Day
Their old, familiar carols play,
And wild and sweet
The words repeat
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And thought how, as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had rolled along
The unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Till ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime,
A chant sublime
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

Then from each black, accursed mouth
The cannon thundered in the South,
And with the sound
The carols drowned
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

It was as if an earthquake rent
The hearth-stones of a continent,
And made forlorn
The households born
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!

And in despair I bowed my head;
“There is no peace on earth,” I said;
“For hate is strong,
And mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good-will to men!”

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
“God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The Wrong shall fail,
The Right prevail,
With peace on earth, good-will to men.”

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow (1864—written during the American Civil War)

May peace and plenty be the first to lift the latch on your door, and happiness be guided to your home by the candle of Christmas.

The world needs tolerance;

A lot more trust.

And kindness scattered,

Like Angel Dust.

We need quiet moments;

A lot more peace.

That wars may end

And hatreds cease.

We need caring friends;

Some hope, some mirth.

And a glimmer to guide us

Here on this earth.

We need joyful hearts;

Cures for disease.

And gentle reminders

To say "thank you" and "please".

We need to protect

The frog and the dove.

For the smallest of creatures

Were created through love.

We need to remember

Stray kittens; green trees.

For we are no greater

Or lesser than these.

How to begin

The changes we must?

By scattering kindesses,

Like Angel Dust.

~ Author Unknown

Grace comes unexpectedly

In barns on bitter nights,
Ultimately ordinary
Lest we claim our rights.
Invisible to those who see,
A veil to those who know,
No miracle or mystery
Descends to us below;
Just immanence immaculate
Awake within our sleep,
Salient as a centipede
Out strolling on a heap,
Not strange enough to keep.

~ author unknow

In the old country, it was common to give the animals a special treat on Christmas Eve. It was widely believed that all animals could talk on this special night. Today some families continue that tradition. They go for a walk in the garden, in the park or in the field or forest and bring along small goodies for the animals on this very special occasion.

Alex's Christmas Post: click HERE

[This post will grow throughout Christmas Eve]