What's your tree tradition? Tell me! All and --Becky and All

[Guest guest]

Dearest Becky and All,

 

Christmas to me and to my family first is the celebration of the birth of our

Savior and Lord Jesus Christ. It is about tradition and memories made throughout

the year leading up to this wonderful celebration. The time spent with my family

putting up the Christmas lights, the Christmas tree, hanging beautiful ornaments

from years past that we have collected through friendships and made by my

children when they were younger reminiscing about the days past looking back on

those glorious memories that God gave us as a family while listening to

Christmas music.

 

It is about the celebrations we participate in such as the Cantata, the caroling

which we will be doing this Sunday Night in the local neighborhoods, sharing the

love and the spirit of Christmas, Christ’s birth, with all who are willing.

Christmas is that special time of year when everyone opens up their hearts to

others giving and sharing to those who have little or none. People spreading

love and joy, the smiles on the faces of the people passing by, seeing families

together spending time with one another making memories of their own and looking

forward to the precious NEW YEAR God has in store for them and for us. Christmas

is about traditions of the past and the future and the progress that we have

made throughout the years. It is about being opened and warming the hearts of

others, once felt it seems to come more often. It is about the love we share,

the service we give to those in need, and the gatherings of friends and family.

It is a miraculous

time of year that seems to touch the hearts and souls by the masses.

 

Throughout this past year I have grown so much spiritually, I can’t even begin

to express where I am at this moment in time. I am full of gratitude, love,

respect, trust, giving of service, so very gracious of what I have, the people I

have met over the year and my accomplishments. I feel like I am a very different

person living in a very different time, place, and space. The more I live, the

more I give, the more I practice all these things, the more I see my family

adapt to these same things, and not only my family, but friends as well.

Sometimes people ask me why I do what I do and my response is because I love it.

For instance, every year I bake pound cakes (a family recipe) and I give them

away to various people, people that I don’t know personally but see often and

recognize their important role in society such as the school crossing guard. She

doesn’t help my kids because I take mine to school, but if I needed her I know

she would be there.

She is out in the rain, the cold, the sunshine, the Red-Tide problems, in all

sorts of weather and situations. Yes, she is paid, but the point is she chose

that job and she is very good at it so this year I decided to add her to my list

of cakes. When a friend of mine found out I baked a cake for the crossing guard

she said that I was “a softy”. I just smiled and went on my way! I love giving

service and love giving things, mainly just to let them know that someone cares

and to see the smiles on their faces light up the world and their hearts open to

the prospects of passing on the love that I have passed on to them. Sort of like

a pay it forward scenario. Anyway, this is what Christmas, Trees, Lights, and

MOST of all the true meaning of Christmas means to me.

 

My Kundalini plays a tremendous role in this whole process without my having to

focus on it because my actions speak for it all through the time spent with my

family, my extended family (this group) and friends, the people I provide a

service to, the people I give to, the gift I give my family with my love and

actions, the whole thing. Merry Christmas to all and a Happy Shaktipat.

 

 

 

 

Becky Jean Rich <beckyjeanrich

 

Friday, December 21, 2007 1:25:54 PM

What's your tree tradition? Tell me!

All and Chrism

 

Dearest Wonderful Group -

It's almost Christmas, boy do I know it! I have two boys who cannot contain

themselves in anticipation of what Santa will bring them. Lest us not forget

they are 11 and 13 years old and this " What will Santa bring? is getting quite

old, and so are they! " . My usual repertoire is to set up a glorious Christmas

tree, seven or eight feet tall with beautiful decorations collected from

different European Christmas Markts, all decked out in such glory with red bows,

lit with fiber optics lights...... tree is fake, everything else too Last year

was our first Christmas in this house, a much smaller house than the previous

one, our space is very limited. Last year, volunteering at the community's

thrift shop I bought the perfect tree to accommodate us. A sweetheart of a tree

about three feet tall. Right after Thanksgiving I brought out my precious gem, I

was so Lovingly proud! I searched the room....there was no room for it, so I

began to move things around till

the

perfect spot was located. My tree, the perfect tree! When my husband and

children came to the living room they were dismayed! Where are we going to fit

all the Christmas present? They asked. THAT's is our tree???? But?? we never had

such a puny tree? I reminded them that it's not the size of the tree but the

Love we all feel in remembrance of Jesus' birth....a tree had nothing to do with

it. My smart aleck eldest exclaimed " Well its big enough for my playstation

games and gift cards! I'll take it! My youngest had a bit more difficulties, he

Loves Legos and Bionicols (I don't even know how to spell it). The tree was just

not big enough, Lego boxes are big and that little tree in the corner was just

not going to accommodate his wishes. My husband looked at me and opened his

mouth to say something... I said to him " not a word from you too! " . I liked my

tree, it had spunk! okay so it could not hold all those precious European

decorations, but who cares? It

was

beautiful!

Thank goodness I set up my beautiful tree up long before Christmas, eventually

they ALL got used to it. That Christmas came and went and we were all happy what

we got from that " Santa " that everyone seems to be celebrating. ..so many songs

about him and movies too...I figure he must of had his Kundalini awaken!

Today, it's 4 days before Christmas, here in Germany, and my precious gem was no

where to be found! They searched the attic, basement, garage...where' s " our "

tree? they asked!

There are some who IF they wished to have a Christmas tree they would not be

able to buy one, or have the room to house it. There are some of us who live in

dire needs yet they give us all they have, all of what they are! There are some,

who reach into our hearts with the ultimate Love and I sense there's nothing out

there that I could give but to Love them even more, give even more of what I am

given, or of what I have become, and surrender to that Love, the ultimate Love

and all along feel really really humble. There are some Jesuses in our lives.

I don't feel I need to apologize for the way I feel about Christmas trees. I,

being born in Spain there was no such thing so lovingly celebrated. I am ashamed

of myself to have done it in the past few years, going along with the crowded

crowd. Yes they are pretty, they are fun to decorate, great tradition... but is

that really the Christmas Spirit? I keep hearing people say to me " We decorated

the Christmas tree today, it really brought the Christmas Spirit home " WHAT?????

My neighbours came to visit and shockingly asked " Where's your tree? " I bought

mine today, very very big and very nice tree. What a measure of the Spirit!

Yes, Christmas is nearing, my precious tree is hiding perhaps to teach us a

lesson, and I welcome it. I am being asked again.... " Is it the garage but we

just don't see it? "

I shall have a Merry Christ-mas, with no Santa in my heart, no tree and that's

okay with me! I am Lovingly rejoicing my Kundalini in me, and the receipt of

such an amazing blessing, I am reminded everyday,every minute and with my every

breath...I am blessed.

I Love with Christ-mas all-ways! It celebrates the person that's really is

always in you and in me and All there IS.

All my Love to all of you,and Loving Christ-mas to come.......

Merry Christmas to you and Shaktipat too!

All my Love to all of you, for evermore.

Becky

 

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