Silent Night...

The hubster and I attend 2 different churches, we alternate Sundays...he is Anglican and I am Southern Baptist (formerly Catholic).  Weird, I know, but we make it work.

This past Sunday was Anglican day.  The Anglican church we attend is exquisite!  It was built in the 1800s and with the exception of electricity, heat and air, everything has pretty much been left the same...even the pews are original to the building.

While singing one of my most favorite hymns, O Come, O Come Emmanuel, I looked around the small building.  The only Christmas decorations were freshly cut cedar branches with white candles in the center, placed in the windows.  That's it.  No fuss, no muss, no tree, no large swags of garland....just these few simple branches.

Those decorations made me think of a scene in the movie Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade, where Indiana Jones had to enter a room to choose the Holy Grail...a cup used by the "King of Kings".  Each person who had previously entered this room had chosen a cup that had been spectacular, made of gold and heavily jeweled, something we would believe befitting of a king.  But we see that it dawns on Indiana Jones that the cup the true "King of Kings" would use would not be something expensive and flashy, but the cup of a carpenter, someone who did not have a lot of money and would not have anything flashy in his possession.

This in turn made me think of the decorations in my own home.  While I've been simplistic in my decorating this year, I feel that it is still overdone.  That the decorations in this beautiful old church far out-shined all of the decorations in my own home.  It was a reflective, eye-opening moment for me.

How many times do we spend the entire season running around purchasing gifts, decorating our homes, attending parties and feeling totally exhausted at the end of every day, when it only needs to be something simple?

We've already received the greatest GIFT we could ever get, so why drive ourselves crazy with all of the hoopla that has come to be such a large part of the Christmas holiday?  Why not just do the simple things....help others, love one another, comfort those in need?  Christmas is not about the grandest tree or fattest garland or shiniest bauble or most expensive gift...it is about the Christ child, the carpenter, the King of Kings.

One of my favorite movies to watch during the Christmas season, and really any other time during the year, is Silent Night.  To me, this movie sincerely reflects the true meaning of Christmas....peace and good will toward men.


I hope that you each have a most wonderfully blessed Christmas!




16 comments

  1. Merry Christmas Benita. Enjoy the peace and comfort over the next few days.
    Kris

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    1. You too my sweet friend! Love, peace and joy to you!! Hugs!!

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  2. speaking of exquisite simplicity and truth...
    this post.
    warmed this simple heart and home on Christmas eve.
    blessings to you lovely lady! xo♥

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    1. Thank you so very much sweet lady! I hope you have a most wonderfully blessed Christmas! Love and hugs to you!! Merry Christmas!!

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  3. Well you did it. The first cry of Christmas Eve. Your thoughtful, sweet descriptive words - the reason for the season, His gift and love.. Thank you for the reminder. Merry Christmas to you and yours friend. And a prayer for peace on earth.

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    1. I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to make you cry. Thank you so very much! You have been such a blessing and I hope that you and your family have a most wonderful blessed and peaceful Christmas! Hugs to you!! :-)

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  4. I so agree with you Benita . I actually didn't put up any tree this year , a few little Christmas vignettes. I shopped mostly online , a lot from Etsy shop's. I payed it forward instead . It felt so good to give to stranger's that were in need. I sit here with my clean home , knowing both my children are happy and healthy with a pine candle burning . Reflecting how fortunate I am and all that I have , I'm truly blessed !!! Also what a blessing you've been . Thank you :) You and Edward have a VERY MERRY CHRISTMAS !! Big hug's and love, TT ❤️🌲

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    1. I think that is so wonderful Tammy....paying it forward is definitely what it is all about and helping others is such a wonderful feeling…much like the woman at the well. She gave everything she had for someone else! You too have been such a blessing….we never know what waits for us around the corner and God always puts those that we need in our path! And for that, I am truly thankful! I hope you and your family have a most wonderfully blessed Christmas! Big hugs and love to you sweet friend!!

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    1. Thank you so much! I hope you and your family have a most blessed Merry Christmas!!

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  6. Merry Christmas, Benita....wonderful words. Sending love and hugs to you.

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    1. Merry Christmas sweet friend! Love and hugs to you also!! :-)

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  7. You are so right Benita...we do go way over the top this time of year, no matter what it is...everything always has to be perfect! I admit that I am in love with the 'magic of Christmas' and I go all out decorating...it is because I missed out on Christmas as a child, I think I am playing catch up as an adult! But I totally believe that giving is the most important thing to me...giving to those in need, whether it be a helping hand or food or money, sometimes it is just doing a chore or an errand for someone who cannot do it for themselves! Goodwill to man is really what it is all about!
    Merry Christmas to you and your family!!
    Big hugs!!

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    1. I totally agree. I always say I’m going to start out small, but then it balloons and before I know it, it is out of control…lol. I hope you and your family had a most wonderful Christmas…full of love, joy and peace! Love and hugs to you sweet friend!

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  8. Perfectly said and so fitting for now and any time of year! If only we can keep it in our hearts from now forward.

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    1. Thank you so much and yes, for any time of year. Sadly, that's where I drop the ball. I hope the coming year will not be that way!

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