If you are bustling about finishing up Christmas preparations, I send a moment of stillness.
If you are bereft in the ending of this year, away from those you love, I send hope.
Neither hope nor quiet are mine to put a stamp on and mail off, of course, but one can wish good things for others. At this very moment, as inconsequential as the act may be, I am making space in what we tend to call the heart, in my heart, for you.
Now, if for any reason you’re thinking, wow, she sure is getting off easy on a Saturday morning,–which, fair–today’s my dad’s birthday and he used to write lovely pieces on literature for Privilege. Particularly of the High WASP variety. Here’s the first one. You can search for the others on the term “Professor C.,” if you’d like.
For now, wishing you a big warm internal space–I imagine that’s what meant by prayer–where we can make sure a happy past lives on and sometimes send wishes to others. Have a lovely week.
(P.S. thank you so much for the kind and enthusiastic comments about my son’s book. much appreciated, and,, yes, it has been a gloriously abundant few months.)
7 Responses
Thank you for the hope and the kind wishes, Lisa — given, as always, in such beautiful words. Happy holidays to you and everyone here!
Happy birthday to your dear father, and it was a delight to read his post again today. It’s so hard to do holidays without them. My own father’s not doing well at all, and there are a lot of complicated feelings in my head this year, but I’m trying to make it a happy Christmas for everyone. I hope yours is absolutely full of love. ❤
You’re so welcome. I hope your Dad, and you, can have some joy this Christmas despite his troubles.
Peace, hope, and joy all around —
Yes. All around:)
I remember your father’s erudite, thoughtful, and generous posts here. And having just lost someone very special, I appreciate your wish for that big warm internal space where our relationship lives on. (I agree with you that your wish is what’s meant by prayer. In fact, your speculation reminded me that my mother once sent a sweet, short letter to my daughter, then about five, and it began with “I thought about you today in church, and that thought was a prayer.”)
Take care as you remember your father on his birthday. Those posthumous anniversaries are tough (if also often lovely). xo
Thank you, Frances. I’m so sorry you’ve lost someone you loved. Somehow I feel like maybe I had you in mind, or we shared thoughts, as I am not usually want to talk about prayer. How lovely of your mom to send that letter. Poetry somewhere in her soul, no?
I found a few months ago a letter to my mother from my uncle!About a CHRISTMAS he recalled when they were kids in Monroe,Indiana.I photocopied and sent to all my cousins to open on Christmas morning!
It was a tear jerker but his point was the Mother my Grandmother was a VERY STRONG PERSON!
She knew the church would have gifts for kids so they all bundled up and walked 3 miles to the church service on the 24 th.The gift was an Orange for each child.
Merry Happy Holidays to you and your family!
My Father was born in December too!