Always interesting that the year turns soon before Christmas...Gone is the shortest day and the birds and singing loud now.
Wild and wet this Christmas Day. Thankful for this, after the hard snow and ice of the last two winters.
Markets over for a while; the last one was yesterday, Christmas Eve. Novel to be out on that day. Time afterwards to sit on a friendly bale of straw in the crib of a busy church. Flowers being brought in; folk queuing quietly for confession.. a pair of wee girls at the crib and the candle stands full. Warm and dry...
In Canada, hampers are all out, and in India our wee ones will feast on chicken with their rice and vegetables, and a treat of oranges!
Hard indeed that any baby does not have the simple peace of a full belly, a clean body and a loving mother. Yesterday, watching a stallholder with a tiny baby and knowing how simple the needs of a four month old are.
An honour and a privilege to be able to help; for if we truly know and love Jesus, then at this time above all others, it is He Who starves and wails with hunger and cold and destitution. A huge lack and sorrow that we cannot do more, save more, feed more.
Here, we have all. A gift of coal means the house here is warm. And there is food and more than enough. Brussels sprouts from the garden and baby carrots too, and sage. A healing and a gentling to have these this year.
Small gifts of food that are not small.
Simple, wholesome.
So now a pause from markets. Not from work, as stock has to be made always. But from outgoing a quietude. Time to gather Prayer; time also to work the garden ready for the growing this year.
So many new ideas for knitting and beading and making, that there has not been time to work out.
There were eight markets in 2o days, most of then new to us. An intense time indeed, So many new friends and so many old acquaintances.
Scattered now to their homes.
So we turn to the Nine Lessons and Carols, grace a the internet. Candle lit here, in the Christmas quiet.
Blessings and peace
