I know the decorations are put away, the music changed, and the lights gone. Christmas is over for another year. It's only been a few weeks and it already feels like ages ago that we were gathered together with cheer in our hearts and giving first and foremost in our minds.I wanted to take a nap, but recognized I would need a little coaxing to transfer me quickly and wholly to unconsciousness. Scanning through my book shelf for something light, I picked up the small book. It had been a Christmas gift that I had yet to find the time to enjoy. Now seemed like a perfect time to dabble in it's pages a bit before falling prey to the warmth of a Sunday nap.
I opened the cover of The Christmas Jars, briefly wondering how long my eyes would remain propped open. Two hours later, I closed the back cover of the devoured book. My eyes had not only remained wide open, they had gathered in a story that caused my heart to swell and throb with sorrow and joy several times. The story had left a mark etched in my countenance, evidenced by the trace of tears on my cheeks and the runny-ness of my reddened nose.
I slowly sat up from my reading spot on the bed and, in habit, glanced around to secure the time. Instead, I discovered something that caused a shocked laugh to bubble up from my throat.
There on my dresser drawers sat a Mason canning jar.
A clean, empty jar I had inadvertently placed there the day before when my arms and hands had been overflowing with clean laundry. The jar had been destined for the storage room. Now it sat in a most chilling and thrilling coincidental place.
It was a call to make a story more than just a light read or an afternoon tear-jerker. It was a tug, a prompting, a bidding to make the story real for myself and my family.
That jar has been moved to the kitchen where it will stand sentinel around the gathering coins. It's diminishing empty space will diligently nudge us away from our own chaos and concern and revive our better selves into doing more, more often. Maybe even more than collecting pennies.
Here's to making Christmas last the whole year through!
10 comments:
What a thought provoking post. Thank you so much. Boy, everything mentioned is so true. Now off to help my boys build Gingerbread houses.
Oh, I loved that book! I think I need to read it again. Thank you so much for reminding me!!
Oh, what a beautiful post and inspiring story! I am going to have to get that book. It's such a wonderful idea.
I remember that. I love that book.
I've never read that book, but you are a great writer, Evelyn.
This is just as awesome as it was the first time;)
As soon as I finished reading this, I picked up my phone, and bought the book for my Kindle App. I think I might have the actual book somewhere, but that didn't occur to me until my purchase was complete.
Look what you made me do! Now I have to explain a $6.36 purchase to Roon!
It's all your fault! (Thank you:)
That is so neat!
I love this idea! Ive already donated my charity money for this month but I am so starting this to do next Christmas!
love that book...i am off to get my mason jar AND dig through the "library" to find my copy so i can read it again.
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