May Peace & Joy be yours this Christmas

This Christmas I pray for peace in our world for all and a life without hunger or fear. A world of tolerance and harmony between all, regardless of faith.

Whether you celebrate or not, I wish you the joy and peace of Christmas and happy, worry free times spent in the company of your loved ones, family and friends. If you are estranged from your family, please contact them and let them know you are ok.  It will be a gift beyond measure for both of you.

Montserrat, Spain

  I would like to share a special poem with you today. I wrote it in 2014 just a few months after my father passed away. It is for all of you missing someone from your table this year.

The Ghosts of Christmas Past

Christmas only comes but once a year

It brings with it joys and tears

As I go through the motions of gift buying, decorations 

And planning menus

I am thinking of those who will be missing from my table 

for the first time this year

They are the ghosts of Christmas past.

My father hanging Christmas lights in the pine trees at our front gate

The carol singers under our corner street light

I lay in bed wondering how Father Christmas could possibly come down

our kitchen chimney

and through the little doors at the front of our Metters wood Stove.

But he did – because the carrots and cake were gone in the morning.

The excitement of seeing my new big doll Lucy under the Christmas tree.
My mother dishing up the Christmas pudding with the threepences hidden inside

Her Christmas carols that filled the house.

The long Christmas table at my Aunts

With aunts and uncles, cousins and grandparents

And silly hats.

Summer heat and laughter,

Playing under the sprinkler on the back lawn,
And laying on the long cool passage lino with a new book.

The simple pleasure of humid summer evenings on the back lawn
     looking up at the stars. 

As I hang the special Christmas baubles on my tree

And light the candle of remembrance

I look into the eyes of my grandchildren

And I see the ghosts of Christmas past.

Jill Harrison

2 December 2014

Australian Rose Mallee

Thank you so much for stopping by. I truly appreciate your support over the the year, and wish you the happiest Christmas. 
I value your comments and look forward to hearing from you. I will try to visit your blogs in return. Have a wonderful week. 

I am linking up to the link-ups below. Please click on the links to see fabulous contributions from around the world - virtual touring at its best!

   
All Seasons
MosaicMonday at Letting Go of the Bay Leaf

Our World Tuesday

Pictorial Tuesday 

ThroughMy Lens 

Image-in-ing
Wednesday Around the World at Communal Global hosted by Random-osity. 
Travel Photo Thursday 

The Lovin' Life Team over at: Deep Fried Fruit and 50 Shades of Age
Little Things Thursday

Life in Reflection

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