Christmas in August
I admit to watching Christmas movies for six months or more, viewing the festive lights, singing carols, choosing my favorite charities, reliving family traditions, and feeling grateful for the blessings of the Holiday season. I was raised Roman Catholic but consider myself more spiritual than anything. I have a real problem with the exclusivity and expectations of most organized religions. Some of you will stop reading now as I have offended you. I actually see Jesus, Mohammed, and Buddha as Enlightened Ones—-plural. It never made sense to me that there would be only one true religion, and God would leave the majority of the peoples of this Earth in limbo or purgatory or wherever Christianity decrees.
Yet this open-minded view works with my version of Christmas: Peace and joy unto you…I mean ALL of you. Blessings to ALL humanity. Jesus would have wanted that. As would have Buddha and Mohammed. For me this philosophy of Christmas is how I choose to live my live all 12 months, which is why I find the Season filled with miracles and hope.
The Christmas Boot written by LIsa Wheeler and illustrated by the amazingly talented Jerry Pinkney embodies the true spirit of Christmas. This heartwarming tale’s main character is Hannah, a poor old woman living in the woods, trying to survive in spite of the frigid conditions and deep snow. She discovers a warm black boot which magically transforms to fit her foot. Suddenly her wishes come true. The simple ones work for her. The grand ones are just too great a leap for this sweet, simple soul.
The true owner of the boot arrives on Christmas Eve (I’m sure you can guess who that is:) And Sweet Santa enriches Hannah’s life in a way she never expected. If you read this book and don’t get a warm, fuzzy feeling you must be related to Ebenezer Scrooge. This is a book I would read every year to my little ones, as I did with The Littlest Angel, another book which truly captures what truly matters.
“Of all the gifts of all the angels I find that this small box pleased me most. Its contents are of the Earth and of men, and My Son is born to be King of both." I can forgive them they didn’t include women, but in my mind this quote from The Littlest Angel is for all of us.