Christmas

Signs of the Times Bring Glad Tidings

Posted on by jptanabe
Before the last neighbors’ house even took away the spooky Halloween decorations from their yard, people in my neighborhood started having Christmassy front yards. The day before Thanksgiving suddenly almost all the houses had been lit up with cheer and joy.
 
When the Christmas tree arrived in Rockefeller Center in New York City, the New Yorkers were shocked to discover in its branches, more surprised than themselves, a most adorable cute huggable owl, with her eyes wide open in amazement. This little owl could not comprehend how in the world she could make the trip from somewhere in the deep forest and arrive at Rockefeller Plaza, where she never went before. She was starving and seemed stunned to encounter the busy, anxious inhabitants of the Big Apple.
 
This was a sign. God the almighty sent a message to New Yorkers with the best ornament the Christmas Tree ever had. You see, the owl represents a beneficial, protective, wise bird. It protects humans at night, and brings good fortune, announcing change and new beginnings with higher understanding.
 
In the frosty December cold winter, this owl brought cheer, joy, and comfort to all of us.
In the meantime, the little owl, given the name “Rocky,” was fed, nurtured, and brought back to the forest.
Photograph: Ravensbeard Wildlife Center.

In my own backyard in the Mid-Hudson Valley, we see all kinds of animals. My neighbor Leanne is giving names to the visiting deer. One is Stella. There was also Haribou, the master with his big horns. In late October, drinking coffee with friends on my porch, suddenly a baby deer was chasing his mom, and right in front of our eyes, started nursing.

There is Blackie, the wild cat, who lives in the bushes and refuses to inhabit the cat house with a special blanket which generates heat. He likes it better in the wild over there in the bushes. But every day he comes to Leanne for food.
 
Last winter I also gave names to two huge visiting birds who came often, always as a pair. Halifax and Margot always chose the same tree when they visited me.
 
God made the creation at the beginning of time. He asked Adam, the first human being, to name each animal. We were supposed to be lord of creation and rule the world with love. But Adam and Eve fell. That is why God had to send Jesus the Messiah our savior. Jesus spoke about the marriage supper of the lamb which will happen at his return.
May we recognize the signs of the time.
 
Merry Christmas and cheers and blessings to you and your loved ones.
 
Elisabeth Seidel

Faith and Love and Forgiveness

Posted on by jptanabe

If we have faith, believing the unbelievable, if we have love, loving the unlovable, and if we have the ability to forgive, Jesus said seventy times seven times, then our life will be worth living and meaningful.

Any act of love, of kindness, will make our credit in our bank of love go up. My husband always said, let’s make sure our love credit is high then in times of hardship and struggle we have already a high credit.

An act of love and kindness makes my heart melt. A couple of weeks ago as I was taking my daily walk around the neighborhood, a lady who lives on the next street stopped me. She had just parked her car and was unloading her bags. She asked if I was celebrating Christmas. I said, yes of course. Then she said she had a gift for me. I was surprised because I never met her before. She said it was from the heart – from her heart to mine – she wanted to buy me a special gift. It was a beautiful silvery heart for Christmas decoration. She said that when she sees me walking, she thinks of our story that she read in the local newspaper. Then she gave me a hug.

This is the beautiful heart my neighbor gave me as a gift.

Unexpected encounter that brings Christmas joy. Random acts of kindness that make the heart melt. Did not Jesus say to love our neighbors like ourselves?

And a gift to ourselves: to forgive, because when we cannot forgive, we have grudges. Grudges are no good for anybody, especially the people who hold them. They bubble up and then fester, fester, fester. So, we need to let go.

We do not let go of the truth, or the right, or the seven virtues, but the arrows which came in our direction and wounded us. Time and forgiveness are the greatest healers of all.

So, this Christmas season let’s all make gifts of love, believing the unbelievable things, loving the unlovable, and praying for the ability to forgive all the hurts we received that could not heal until today, because today we are making a wish: We have the ability to forgive.

Here is the link to the newspaper on their website, where the article is seen beginning on the front page.

Hudson River View December 2018