Faith Hope and Fiction Blog

             A steady snowfall steadily blankets the ground. From the warmth of the house and the comfort of my bathrobe (even though it's past nine in the morning) it looks very appealing. It will take me some time, I suspect, before I actually greet the elements face-to-flake.

            It is the day after Christmas, Boxing Day, run to the mall for returns and shopping with gift certificates day, and, as prescribed by the carol lyrics, the day our true loves should be delivering two turtle doves. All that sounds like a lot more work than I am prepared to undertake. I am homebound for the holiday.

            Yesterday was a feast in every sense of the word: good food, good company, good conversation. Guests came early and stayed late (and helped with the cleanup, for which I am grateful). My husband's deep-fried turkey was perfection, and my roast beef could be cut with a butter knife. After that big meal yesterday, I'm only going into the kitchen today to make coffee or heat up leftovers.

            Today, has a velvety quality to it, perfect for relaxing in comfortable jeans and the new sweatshirt my son gave me for Christmas (when I finally get out of my pajamas, that is).  I should run the vacuum cleaner in the living room and help clear the snow outside, and I may eventually get around to doing those things. For now, though, I'm pretty content to watch the snow from this side of the window.

            I was consumed in a different kind of flurry yesterday that comes with having guests for dinner, and I loved every minute of it. In contrast, today is slow paced and lazy, a time not only for relaxation but contemplation of what Christmas has brought this year, not in terms of the packages under the tree to be sure, but peace and hope, and gratitude for another year together with family and friends.

            The Christmas carols will be off the radio today, but I will still play them, because now I can truly contemplate the words: All is calm, all is bright…

            Wherever you are, I wish you the peace and joy of the day after Christmas. I intend to savor it today.