HOMEMAKERS CREED

 

The Boy and His Christmas Box

 

Christmas is for love. It is for joy, for giving and sharing, for laughter, for reuniting with family and friends, for tinsel and brightly decorated packages. But mostly, Christmas is for love. I had not believed this until a small elf-like student with wide-eyed innocent eyes and soft rosy cheeks gave me a wondrous gift one Christmas.

Mark was an 11 year old orphan who lived with his aunt, a bitter middle aged woman greatly annoyed with the burden of caring for her dead sister’s son. She never failed to remind young Mark, if it hadn’t been for her generosity, he would be a vagrant, homeless waif. Still, with all the scolding and chilliness at home, he was a sweet and gentle child.

I had not noticed Mark particularly until he began staying after class each day (at the risk of arousing his aunt’s anger, I later found) to help me straighten up the room. We did this quietly and comfortably, not speaking much, but enjoying the solitude of that hour of the day. When we did talk, Mark spoke mostly of his mother. Though he was quite small when she died, he remembered a kind, gentle, loving woman, who always spent much time with him.

As Christmas drew near however, Mark failed to stay after school each day. I looked forward to his coming, and when the days passed and he continued to scamper hurriedly from the room after class, I stopped him one afternoon and asked why he no longer helped me in the room. I told him how I had missed him, and his large gray eyes lit up eagerly as he replied, “Did you really miss me?”

 

I explained how he had been my best helper. “I was making you a surprise,” he whispered confidentially. “It’s for Christmas.” With that, he became embarrassed and dashed from the room. He didn’t stay after school any more after that.

Finally came the last school day before Christmas. Mark crept slowly into the room late that afternoon with his hands concealing something behind his back. “I have your present,” he said timidly when I looked up. “I hope you like it.” He held out his hands, and there lying in his small palms was a tiny wooden box.

“Its beautiful, Mark. Is there something in it?” I asked opening the top to look inside. ”

“Oh you can’t see what’s in it,” He replied, “and you can’t touch it, or taste it or feel it, but mother always said it makes you feel good all the time, warm on cold nights, and safe when you’re all alone.”

I gazed into the empty box. “What is it Mark,” I asked gently, “that will make me feel so good?” “It’s love,” he whispered softly, “and mother always said it’s best when you give it away.” And he turned and quietly left the room.

So now I keep a small box crudely made of scraps of wood on the piano in my living room and only smile as inquiring friends raise quizzical eyebrows when I explain to them that there is love in it.

Yes, Christmas is for gaiety, mirth and song, for good and wondrous gifts. But mostly, Christmas is for love.

~ Unknown ~

 https://deeprootsathome.com/christmas-short-stories

GRANDMA'S APRON

 

Reindeer's Story at Christmas

According to the Alaska Department of Fish and Game, while both male and female reindeer grow antlers in the summer each year, male reindeer drop their antlers at the beginning of winter, usually late November to mid-December.

Female reindeer retain their antlers till after they give birth in the spring. Therefore, according to EVERY historical rendition depicting Santa's reindeer, EVERY single one of them, from Rudolph to Blitzen, had to be a girl.

We should have known... ONLY women would be able to drag a fat man in a red velvet suit all around the world in one night and not get lost.

CHRISTMAS IS A TIME FOR SHARING

Christmas is a Time - for Sharing by Barbara Laughlin

 

Old stories passed down through the years

"what grandpa did one Christmas eve"

Had you laughing through your tears

 

Christmas is a time - for caring

About your family, neighbours and friends

Lending a hand to others in need

before the season ends

 

Christmas is a time - for giving

Presents that came from your heart

Watching the children, hearing their laughter

As the packages are torn apart

 

Christmas is a time - for peace

When soldiers lay aside their guns

And raise a glass to peace and good will

To every father and every son

 

Christmas is a time - for remembering

Family not with us on Christmas morn

And why people everywhere celebrate

The night our saviour was born

 

RABANADA - Traditional Portuguese Christmas Recipes

 

Rabanada is the Portuguese  equivalent of French toast, also known as Tipsy Slices. To make it, you take slices of wheat bread and soak them in milk, wine, or sugar, slather them with eggs and fry them. When ready, they are usually coated in sugar and/or cinnamon, or drizzled in honey.

This is a Portuguese tradition, and was originally created as a dish made with stale bread, in order to use food slightly gone bad instead of throwing it away. 

Recipe

1 French loaf (one day-old  bread is best)
2 eggs
125ml milk
5ml grated lemon rind
oil for frying

Syrup

500g sugar
250ml water
1 stick cinnamon
50ml Port wine

Cut the bread into slices about 2 cm thick. Beat the eggs and place in a soup plate. Mix the milk and lemon rind and pour into a separate soup plate. Dip the bread slices into the milk and then the beaten egg. Fry in hot oil. Drain well.

To make the syrup, boil the sugar and water for 3 minutes. Dip each fried bread into the hot syrup and then place in a deep serving bowl. Add the cinnamon stick and Port wine to the remaining syrup, bring to the boil and pour over the slices of bread.

Variation
Sprinkle the bread with cinnamon and sugar after frying.

CHRISTMAS BLESSINGS - "It's not how much we give but how much love we put into giving." Mother Teresa

 “After the season is over, the Christmas lights come down, the fragrance of pine dissipates into the air, and the Christmas music no longer plays on the radio, we may ask, ‘What happens next?’ The wonder and awe of Christmas is just a beginning. Christmas reminds us that the babe born in Bethlehem has given us purpose for living, and what happens next to us largely depends on how we embrace our Savior, Jesus Christ, and follow Him.”
— Rosemary Wixom

“Somehow, not only for Christmas
But all the long year through,
The joy that you give to others
Is the joy that comes back to you.”
— John Greenleaf Whittier

“God grant you the light of Christmas, which is faith; the warmth of Christmas, which is purity; the righteousness of Christmas, which is justice; the belief in Christmas, which is truth; the all of Christmas, which is Christ.”
— Wilda English

 “The spirit of Christmas is Christlike love. The way to increase the Christmas spirit is to reach out generously to those around us and give of ourselves. The best gifts are not material things but gifts of listening, of showing kindness, of remembering, of visiting, of forgiving, of giving time.”
— Bonnie L. Oscarson

“Who can add to Christmas? The perfect motive is that God so loved the world. The perfect gift is that He gave His only Son. The only requirement is to believe in Him. The reward of faith is that you shall have everlasting life.”
— Corrie ten Boom

“May you be filled with the wonder of Mary, the obedience of Joseph, the joy of the angels, the eagerness of the shepherds, the determination of the magi, and the peace of the Christ child. Almighty God, Father, Son and Holy Spirit bless you now and forever.”— Ray Pritchard

"Some Christmas tree ornaments do more than glitter and glow, they represent a gift of love given a long time ago."

"Let us have music for Christmas…
Sound the trumpet of joy and rebirth;
Let each of us try, with a song in our hearts,
To bring peace to men on earth."