If you give a child a book...

You open their minds to new worlds and new words. With the right choice of book, you can stretch their boundaries - and abilities.

You can send them to unexpected places where they can learn about character and choices and responsibility and a whole host of virtues.

You can show them the consequences of bad choices, and the sorts of characters they should pity and avoid in their "real life".

Merry Christmas!

"Joy to the World, the Lord has come!
Let Earth receive her King!
Let every heart prepare him room
and heav'n and nature sing!"

Last night, as I related the story of The Little Match Girl by Hans Christian Anderson to sweetie (who had never heard it), I started to cry. For those not familiar with the tale, the Little Match Girl is poor and has to sell matches all day in the cold. She doesn't dare go home before they are all sold, because her father will beat her.

Define Necessity

There is a very powerful image making its way around the internet - and having made its way to me I felt I should share it and my thoughts.

In a season which should be about solemn anticipation of the joyous birth of the Christ Child, we often get caught up in the more worldly, consumerist achievements. Is my goal for Christmas to celebrate and share my faith? The share a day of love with my family and beloved friends? Or is my goal to "shop til I drop" and encourage wanton greed? To enter and win some sort of "best gift" contest?

Advent Ideas

The four weeks of Advent are themed: Hope, Peace, Joy, and Love - each year our readings are centered upon these themes.

This year I added specific verses for each week to my Advent wreath, plus a verse for Christmas day (Christmas is almost always from the Luke Nativity story in our home).

While these are not the only verses or readings we will share, each spoke to me as a "theme verse" for its week.

The verse I thought I wanted for the final week - the week of Love - took me on a bit of a journey to a completely different verse...funny how that happen!

What four verses or inspirational quotes would you select for each of the theme subjects of Hope, Peace, Joy and Love?

Advent: Peace

This Second Sunday of Advent we commence a week of Peace.

In these times of war, financial unrest, high unemployment, it is easy to lose one's sense of peace - to lose oneself in anxiety and fear.

God promised us, "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid." (John 14:27)


And so this week I strive to put aside fears and meditate on His peace and His promise.

Will this be easy? Not on my own - but I know I have a Helper!

Advent: Hope

The First Sunday of Advent was the commencement of the week of Hope. Hope is that small Light that shines in the darkness, a beacon that chases away fear, the true Promise of the Babe in the Manger. That Baby was tiny and helpless, as are we all - but He grew to fulfill the sacrifice that creates our Redemption.

What greater gift could one receive for Christmas?


I gaze upon my infant cousins, and I think of that Christ Child - of how His mother would have held Him and loved Him, just as I snuggle little Charlotte or Michelle. I wonder how much Mary guessed about the path her child's life might take.

Every child contains the hope of his parents - the Christ Child contains the hope of humanity.