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One of the great things about love ...
is that it grows in ever larger ripples when shared.
One shares with another,
then that heart touched by love shares, too.
One becomes two. Two becomes four. And four becomes eight.
Not every heart which receives, gives, of course.
Who of us has not received compassion and felt the better for it?
We are let into a busy traffic line, and we wave thanks.
But do we give it?
Do we let another in somewhere else down the line?
Or do we just go on our way, too much in a hurry to return the favor to a stranger?
Have we received compassion, wisdom, kindness repeatedly from a friend,
but then have been hurt by that same friend?
Can we find it in ourselves, that after having taken so much, to give one thing ...
the benefit of the doubt,
to trust in the past acts of friendship to give ...
forgiveness?
That is the secret of Boxing Day,
still celebrated in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom ...
(though not as widespread as it once was --
like many customs of kindness and compassion)
to give from the surplus that we have received on Christmas Day.
One of the clues to Boxing Day's origins can be found in the Christmas Carol, "Good King Wenceslas."
Wenceslas, who was Duke of Bohemia in the early 10th century, was surveying his land on St. Stephen's Day — Dec. 26 —
when he saw a poor man gathering wood in the middle of a snowstorm.
Moved, the King gathered up surplus food and wine
and carried them through the blizzard to the peasant's door.
Christmas love and magic is better when shared.
Just like laughter is somehow more than doubled when the joke or
the funny movie is shared with a friend.
What is more beautiful than a unicorn in the snow?
Two unicorns racing through the flurry of snowflakes together.
***
is that it grows in ever larger ripples when shared.
One shares with another,
then that heart touched by love shares, too.
One becomes two. Two becomes four. And four becomes eight.
Not every heart which receives, gives, of course.
Who of us has not received compassion and felt the better for it?
We are let into a busy traffic line, and we wave thanks.
But do we give it?
Do we let another in somewhere else down the line?
Or do we just go on our way, too much in a hurry to return the favor to a stranger?
Have we received compassion, wisdom, kindness repeatedly from a friend,
but then have been hurt by that same friend?
Can we find it in ourselves, that after having taken so much, to give one thing ...
the benefit of the doubt,
to trust in the past acts of friendship to give ...
forgiveness?
That is the secret of Boxing Day,
still celebrated in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, and the United Kingdom ...
(though not as widespread as it once was --
like many customs of kindness and compassion)
to give from the surplus that we have received on Christmas Day.
One of the clues to Boxing Day's origins can be found in the Christmas Carol, "Good King Wenceslas."
Wenceslas, who was Duke of Bohemia in the early 10th century, was surveying his land on St. Stephen's Day — Dec. 26 —
when he saw a poor man gathering wood in the middle of a snowstorm.
Moved, the King gathered up surplus food and wine
and carried them through the blizzard to the peasant's door.
Christmas love and magic is better when shared.
Just like laughter is somehow more than doubled when the joke or
the funny movie is shared with a friend.
What is more beautiful than a unicorn in the snow?
Two unicorns racing through the flurry of snowflakes together.
***
Hi Roland - I do hope all has gone well for you over the pre-Christmas time and that you had some free time over Christmas - yes Boxing Day is another special day for making sure others are well and cared for. I'm still settling in - but getting there ... all the best to you for the coming times ahead and New Year - cheers Hilary
ReplyDeleteBest of luck settling in, Hilary. It is pouring down in a blinding hail of rain right now -- and I will have to drive in it! Ouch!! Happiest New Year to you!
DeleteI learned about Boxing Day when I lived in an English vicarage as an au pair and Boxing Day was truly a day of giving to those in need. And your servants too. The au pair got a gift with the family, I believe, on the 25th.
ReplyDeleteMy mother was an au pair but in Canada. The household she cared for was not as kind as yours. It taught her compassion for those in hard places. Happy New Year, Inger!
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