Amidst the piles of Christmas decorations, I suddenly land upon the most treasured tradition of them all. "The Book", as it is now known to all in our family, brings an immediate smile to my face. Joy, laughter and love fills my heart as the timeless memories of these favored stories flood my mind.
Throughout my childhood, and well into my teens, my mother would beckon my sister and I to gather around to listen to one of our most loved Christmas stories. For our family, this was the best Christmas had to offer. Peace and quiet spreading throughout the house, my mother's loving voice carrying our thoughts off to far away places, the masterful words in these classic stories bringing the heart of Christmas home.
There was something reassuring about this particular ritual. We could hardly wait for my mother to bring out "the book" each December. Year after year, this tradition was carried out in our home and year after year the stories became more meaningful to me.
Even when I had grown into a teenager, I still loved it when my mother brought out the much-loved Christmas book. It filled me with a great sense of joy and connection. As I matured, the stories grew richer as my own understanding of their meaning expanded. Steeped in tradition, knowledge, morals and values, the stories gave me new insight about life, love, family and spirituality. As I began experiencing my own personal hopes, dreams and desires, the stories took on a new layer of significance. It happened slowly, but one Christmas, I realized that as I had grown, the stories had grown with me. Now buried deep within my soul their masterfully crafted sentences had become deeply significant. As a young girl I simply loved the magic of the stories; as a young woman, I could more readily relate to the wonder and struggle the characters encountered.
There is something very powerful when a story is read aloud. The reader's voice infuses the words with passion and meaning. My mother's example has become a beacon to my sister and I to train our own voices in order to speak with confidence and joy.
As another Holiday approaches, I joyfully unpack the "Most Loved Christmas Book". The tradition continues as I anxiously thumb through the pages, considering which of the stories will be read first this Season. As I breath deeply and fully, I am overwhelmed by the awareness that the true Spirit of Christmas as been re-awaken within me. It's going to be a wonderful Christmas this year. After all, it's "tradition". - 15359
Throughout my childhood, and well into my teens, my mother would beckon my sister and I to gather around to listen to one of our most loved Christmas stories. For our family, this was the best Christmas had to offer. Peace and quiet spreading throughout the house, my mother's loving voice carrying our thoughts off to far away places, the masterful words in these classic stories bringing the heart of Christmas home.
There was something reassuring about this particular ritual. We could hardly wait for my mother to bring out "the book" each December. Year after year, this tradition was carried out in our home and year after year the stories became more meaningful to me.
Even when I had grown into a teenager, I still loved it when my mother brought out the much-loved Christmas book. It filled me with a great sense of joy and connection. As I matured, the stories grew richer as my own understanding of their meaning expanded. Steeped in tradition, knowledge, morals and values, the stories gave me new insight about life, love, family and spirituality. As I began experiencing my own personal hopes, dreams and desires, the stories took on a new layer of significance. It happened slowly, but one Christmas, I realized that as I had grown, the stories had grown with me. Now buried deep within my soul their masterfully crafted sentences had become deeply significant. As a young girl I simply loved the magic of the stories; as a young woman, I could more readily relate to the wonder and struggle the characters encountered.
There is something very powerful when a story is read aloud. The reader's voice infuses the words with passion and meaning. My mother's example has become a beacon to my sister and I to train our own voices in order to speak with confidence and joy.
As another Holiday approaches, I joyfully unpack the "Most Loved Christmas Book". The tradition continues as I anxiously thumb through the pages, considering which of the stories will be read first this Season. As I breath deeply and fully, I am overwhelmed by the awareness that the true Spirit of Christmas as been re-awaken within me. It's going to be a wonderful Christmas this year. After all, it's "tradition". - 15359
About the Author:
Melanie West, M.A., Educational Psychologist, specializes in working with children with Dyslexia and Attention Deficit. She most recently encouraged her mother to publish her compilation: "The Most Loved Christmas Stories" which is available at Classic Christmas Stories . More inspiring Holiday ideas are available at: Christmas Gift Ideas
