Another Christmas came and went. My celebration started early at the beginning of the month by attending Hadel's "Messiah" and even singing with them the "Hallelujah" chorus. It really empowers the audience by visualizing the day we will meet Him face to face.
I dicided to take a rest from the Christmas trappings - No tree, no light decoration; little gift wrapping; no turkey in the oven or fuss over food and then the big clean up. We celebrated with an ethic church whose hospitality surpasses any of the western church, they prepared scrumptious dishes and did not let people go home until mid-night. They mixed in a lot of spiritual food during the celebration too.
I went with others to visit new refugees into the country before we headed out to our son and his wife. We experienced how children felt when their tired parents had to do the entertaining. It was good for our souls. We listened to two good sermons on Christmas eve and Christma day. Though we questioned beforetime if it was necessary to go two times within 24 hours. After we came out, we had no regret.
I also resisted all temptation to invite people home for meals which usually took up a greater part of my holiday (including the mental stress.) So, yesterday, having overcame one last temptation of entertaining, I went out with a friend who is a new immigrant but a very dear lady, to a Heritage Village for a heritage Christmas, where they had free program for the whole day. We saw the harder life of the early settlers, but with much fun which cost so little to the pocket and to the environment. We sat and listened to a beautiful harpist for over an hour playing Christmas songs and Celtic songs. The interesting thing is, most of the audience were from ethic groups and she explained her songs to us very kindly with a broad smile, as if we had the background and the musical knowledge to understand her. The atmosphere was mesmerizing in that tiny chapel. The last best thing of this Christmas is, I have time to prepare for different projects for my work and for my volunteer work, which is what I am better at.
I dicided to take a rest from the Christmas trappings - No tree, no light decoration; little gift wrapping; no turkey in the oven or fuss over food and then the big clean up. We celebrated with an ethic church whose hospitality surpasses any of the western church, they prepared scrumptious dishes and did not let people go home until mid-night. They mixed in a lot of spiritual food during the celebration too.
I went with others to visit new refugees into the country before we headed out to our son and his wife. We experienced how children felt when their tired parents had to do the entertaining. It was good for our souls. We listened to two good sermons on Christmas eve and Christma day. Though we questioned beforetime if it was necessary to go two times within 24 hours. After we came out, we had no regret.
I also resisted all temptation to invite people home for meals which usually took up a greater part of my holiday (including the mental stress.) So, yesterday, having overcame one last temptation of entertaining, I went out with a friend who is a new immigrant but a very dear lady, to a Heritage Village for a heritage Christmas, where they had free program for the whole day. We saw the harder life of the early settlers, but with much fun which cost so little to the pocket and to the environment. We sat and listened to a beautiful harpist for over an hour playing Christmas songs and Celtic songs. The interesting thing is, most of the audience were from ethic groups and she explained her songs to us very kindly with a broad smile, as if we had the background and the musical knowledge to understand her. The atmosphere was mesmerizing in that tiny chapel. The last best thing of this Christmas is, I have time to prepare for different projects for my work and for my volunteer work, which is what I am better at.
posted by Echo at 2:45 AM
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