I look at the lights on the Christmas tree and years of collected ornaments but what I really see is love. Handmade ornaments made by my children, my husband and me bring back so many good memories. And over the years, Santa put ornaments in the children’s stockings too and now those ornaments are decorating their own family trees.
One year, I made ornaments of all the Winnie the Pooh characters. My children were enchanted with the stories and I wanted them to see Pooh, Eeyore, Piglet and Tigger on the tree. Since ‘Santa’ brought everything, I had to sew and embroider the ornaments after they were asleep. It was fun, and sometimes exhausting, to be Santa’s helper but it was also a gift to bring joy to their little faces.
Seeing the light.
Right now, I know seeing the light is hard. There’s a lot going on around us that fuels anger and fear. I know those feelings well. Because, I’ve been recovering from almost a year of feeling ill before the cause was finally found, and healed with a major surgery.
As I recover from all of this, I try to focus on the light right in front of me.
The lights on the tree.
The books I read to my children and they now read to their little ones.
The characters from Winnie the Pooh who teach us all a few life lessons.
Wonder and wandering.
As I wander through my recovery. And we wonder what happened to our country and lives, maybe we can see some light through the lessons of Winnie the Pooh.
Be in the moment: Pooh takes life one day at a time.
Be kind: Pooh doesn’t always have the answers but he helps his friends as best he can.
Be brave: Even if all seemed lost, Pooh and his friends found a way.
Seize the day: Make the most of what you can do.
And see the twinkle: Always be open to the light whether it’s on your tree, in someone’s eyes or inside your heart.
