To All Creatures Great and Small

My cursor is blinking. A pause in my thinking. 

I know I have something important to say, to one and to all. I have never missed sending a Christmas letter in my many days here with you. Therefore, as my mother always scolded…send thank you notes. 

Handwritten thank you notes especially. 

This one is mine sent to each of you. For this is the season of giving and receiving. A time full of lists and plans and packages and busy schedules. I glance at the calendar and know in my heart that the celebration is knocking at my door. Presents wrapped, tree adorned, lights on the house, soft music playing. 

Cursor blinking. I am thinking.

I have no list for Santa this year as my stocking is filled to the brim. Filled with gratitude for too many answered prayers to count. Perhaps for you as well, a worry turned out to be just that…a worry. Or perhaps a happy ending to a scary story. This year I thrived on worry, until I had no room for peace. I only had room to let go and pray. 

I know I have little patience. I want answers now. 

I know what I need and I need it NOW. 

However, as I wrote on one of my pictures long ago.

Miracles

I asked for a miracle. I got one

It was not what I asked for

But it was exactly what I needed

So to all of you wonderful creatures great and small, welcome to the season of miracles. 

A shelter found after a long hard ride.

 New parents treasuring the gift of a child born under the light of a star. 

The gift of life. The chance to make a difference. 

An opportunity to make miracles of our own. 

Great and small.

Thank you notes are nice, I agree. 

What we say only has meaning, until we DO. 

I offer you my Christmas wish for all creatures great and small.

May your smiles be the infinite kind, and your acts of kindness be selfless.

 Remind yourself that you live in the world, and that your actions and deeds will intertwine in some way with lives of others. 

Live gracefully. 

We all need each other even if we have never met. 

Just like Santa, be the gift that keeps giving. 

Oh and don’t forget the cookies.