Amidst the piles of Christmas decorations, I suddenly land upon the most treasured tradition of them all. "The Book", as it is now known to all in our family, brings an immediate smile to my face. Joy, laughter and love fills my heart as the timeless memories of these favored stories flood my mind.
This family tradition began when I was only 8-years old and continued well into my teens. My mother would call us into the family room.fireplace litlights aglow on the Christmas treepeace and quiet spreading throughout our house as we snuggled under the weight of the family quilt. It was then that my sister and I would anxiously anticipate the opening words; the beginning of a treasured tale from our most prized collection of beloved Christmas stories.
There was something reassuring about this particular ritual. We could hardly wait for my mother to bring out "the book" each December. Year after year, this tradition was carried out in our home and year after year the stories became more meaningful to me.
Even when I had grown into a teenager, I still loved it when my mother brought out the much-loved Christmas book. It filled me with a great sense of joy and connection. As I matured, the stories grew richer as my own understanding of their meaning expanded. Steeped in tradition, knowledge, morals and values, the stories gave me new insight about life, love, family and spirituality. As I began experiencing my own personal hopes, dreams and desires, the stories took on a new layer of significance. It happened slowly, but one Christmas, I realized that as I had grown, the stories had grown with me. Now buried deep within my soul their masterfully crafted sentences had become deeply significant. As a young girl I simply loved the magic of the stories; as a young woman, I could more readily relate to the wonder and struggle the characters encountered.
Thank goodness, my mother understood that children never outgrow the desire to hear a story read aloud. She sensed that we loved hearing her comforting voice. Listening to her infuse the literature with life and passion inspired each of us to learn how to train our voices, empowering us to learn how to express heart-felt enthusiasm.
As another Holiday approaches, I joyfully unpack the "Most Loved Christmas Book". The tradition continues as I anxiously thumb through the pages, considering which of the stories will be read first this Season. As I breath deeply and fully, I am overwhelmed by the awareness that the true Spirit of Christmas as been re-awaken within me. It's going to be a wonderful Christmas this year. After all, it's "tradition". - 15266
This family tradition began when I was only 8-years old and continued well into my teens. My mother would call us into the family room.fireplace litlights aglow on the Christmas treepeace and quiet spreading throughout our house as we snuggled under the weight of the family quilt. It was then that my sister and I would anxiously anticipate the opening words; the beginning of a treasured tale from our most prized collection of beloved Christmas stories.
There was something reassuring about this particular ritual. We could hardly wait for my mother to bring out "the book" each December. Year after year, this tradition was carried out in our home and year after year the stories became more meaningful to me.
Even when I had grown into a teenager, I still loved it when my mother brought out the much-loved Christmas book. It filled me with a great sense of joy and connection. As I matured, the stories grew richer as my own understanding of their meaning expanded. Steeped in tradition, knowledge, morals and values, the stories gave me new insight about life, love, family and spirituality. As I began experiencing my own personal hopes, dreams and desires, the stories took on a new layer of significance. It happened slowly, but one Christmas, I realized that as I had grown, the stories had grown with me. Now buried deep within my soul their masterfully crafted sentences had become deeply significant. As a young girl I simply loved the magic of the stories; as a young woman, I could more readily relate to the wonder and struggle the characters encountered.
Thank goodness, my mother understood that children never outgrow the desire to hear a story read aloud. She sensed that we loved hearing her comforting voice. Listening to her infuse the literature with life and passion inspired each of us to learn how to train our voices, empowering us to learn how to express heart-felt enthusiasm.
As another Holiday approaches, I joyfully unpack the "Most Loved Christmas Book". The tradition continues as I anxiously thumb through the pages, considering which of the stories will be read first this Season. As I breath deeply and fully, I am overwhelmed by the awareness that the true Spirit of Christmas as been re-awaken within me. It's going to be a wonderful Christmas this year. After all, it's "tradition". - 15266
About the Author:
Melanie West, M.A., Educational Psychologist, specializes in working with children with Dyslexia and Attention Deficit. She most recently encouraged her mother to publish her compilation: "The Most Loved Christmas Stories" which is available at Christmas Books . More inspiring Holiday ideas are available at: Classic Christmas Gifts
