It's Christmas morning and I'm the only one awake in the house. My eyes popped open at five o'clock, and I've been doing my best ever since not to awaken anyone else, but my patience is entirely at an end. Lying there, trying to be quiet until the morning light finally comes to claim the day is beyond me. My daughters are both grown and there are no grandchildren yet to bounce out of bed and get the whole household up. I remember the years when my girls did do that while I sit down here and they sleep peacefully upstairs.
My body is trying to claim that it wants more sleep but my mind is scornful of the whole idea of lying abed on a Christmas morning. There are too many wonderful Christmas mornings past crowding into my memory, all demanding my attention, and I have a smile to give each one of them. There is too much magic in the very air I breathe on this Christmas morning to be still in bed, whether everyone else is or not.
As I sit here waiting for the others to rise and share the magic with me, I think of how very, very blessed I am and I am pleased to remember each effort I made to share some of my good fortune this Christmas - the donations I made to Good Will and to the Sally Ann, the money I gave to the Food Bank, the volunteering I did in a multiple-exceptionality class, helping the students there to create some works of Christmas art. Even being able to do such sharing is a blessing in itself.
I would like to wish a blessing for everyone else this morning, too. I wish for you a day when peace surrounds you and your family is close by to wrap you in a soft blanket of love. I wish for you a day when the sun will plant gentle kisses on your cheeks and the kind acts of others will warm your soul. For each and every one of you, I wish a day when your own fondest wishes will be granted and your God will smile upon you.
May peace be with you, all.