A Quieter Time

   Ah yes, A quieter time.. I can remember that! Can you? Maybe not.

  The simplicity of days. I am tired just "thinking" about all the things to do, the stuff to get, the party possibilities. And at our ages we don't participate in a lot anymore. But you younger ones? ~~~~

   What shall we do? Where shall we go? Whom shall we say no to? Will they understand? Will they be hurt?

  Ah yes, I liked the quieter time. But life does not stand still, or go back.  Why can't it for a bit? :-(

  Too much! Too much! No time to think and contemplate. Rush!  Rush!  Rush!...

  We NEVER thought of Thanksgiving before Halloween was over Or Christmas before Thankgiving was over. AND neither did the world, not a hint of one season till the day after the previous one, & there was NO "Shop till ya drop" mentality. We took each Special Time (Thanksgiving/Christmas and Easter) as it came, enjoying it to the fullest and not mixing things.

  I do remember planning, stocking up food stuffs cause winter is coming, then rationing the goodies and some stuff for Dad's work lunch. Might not get back to the store for a few days..Ya might get snowed in. The plows did NOT get roads cleared as fast as now.. and you could enjoy the beautiful snow longer before it got turned to dirty mush. Now it has barely come down and whoosh there it goes!

  If we did get snowed in, WHAT creative meal can we make out of our stocked shelves? You would be surprised!

 

  There was no rush to get presents. Each kid got 2 and one something or other to share if they were lucky.. Some clothing of need, and a toy/game. I remember my twin baby dolls (my last dolls) and one year a pair of ice skates. Then dad took me skating. My he was good! (Didn't feel a bit deprived either, with just that!)

  Meals were simple, yet oh so delicious. We had enough to enjoy for the special day and the next, and then it was gone, and we would not have some of those "special" things again til next year. There was the Russian Side and the Country Side... Now that is a variety! lol

  We didn't have the tug, tug, tug, of where to go. People were not living as long, so some never had Great-Grandparents to include,(or sometimes even grandparents) marriages lasted, so there weren't in-laws and out-laws to deal with. :-)  And Aunts and Uncles were not included in the mix of having to go there too.  UNLESS EVERYONE went there... I do remember that once or twice. One had a LARGE house and everyone went there. And another one had a restaurant that was closed for the holiday, so we went there once. Plenty of room!

  Now - everyone is hurrying and rushing, worrying about what to get for EVERYONE, for every party and HOW Many people??? Then decorations decorations decorations! My all that has GOT to put a crimp in the budget. I feel sad for those that just want to do a little and can't manage even that.  

  This side wants us, that side wants us, there's a work party, there's our club party, there are S.S. parties, there are friends parties, there are old school mates getting together, there are birthday parties, there are missions giving doings to go to, there are church celebrations....... WHEW! can you think of more? she said *rolling* her eyes, I'm exhausted aren't you?

 

Now WHY are we doing all of this? Maybe some parties we should say NO to. What is the Real "Reason For the Season?"  OH my... how many of the gatherings had anything to do with that, or mentioned it, or talked about it, or had decorations that eluded to the "Reason for the Season?".... Was it all just "Santa?" or festive decorations.. hmmmmm 

And I myself in the "rush" forget too. Some days I remember, some days it never enters my mind. For Shame on me!  Honestly, how about you too? 

  I think it is time to again, slow down, take back the holidays and really have a bit of quiet time to think and contemplate the "Reason for the Season" every day.

 

What Gift are we Giving Jesus for his Birthday? 

 

  God gave us The GREATEST GIFT of all in His Son Jesus Christ who came as a babe to grow up and show us God, teach us what God desired, and be our Savior, taking care of our sin for us on a cruel cross, cleansing & freeing us and 'giving us' eternal life in the process. The ONLY real gift any of us need, salvation. 

 

   Personally, in later years I have begun to think that Easter should also be taken away from the bunny, and have more prominence. Jesus the "Reason for that Season" too.

      Merry CHRISTmas! and "Be still and 'know' that He is God!" and how greatly you are loved!