Christmas holidays bring out the child in me. Years ago, a glimpse of Christmas past was at the heart of finding these old wooden Dutch shoes at a neighborhood yard sale. Just my size. Childhood memories of colorful fields of tulips in Holland, windmills, and a love of cheese made it a done deal.
Anxious to restore the patina, I grabbed a bottle of lemon oil and swabbed the old wooden clogs. Soon dark ugly streaks stained the wood, hardly the look I'd wanted. Why hadn't I done research on-line before jumping in thinking I knew best. Oh well, it was too late. I'd ruined the natural wood.
Hoping for the best, I let the pair dry out in the warm sunshine. The old Dutch shoes were salvageable, and, on a whim, made cute holiday "boats" for my childhood elves to ride around the Christmas tree.
Caught up in a wave of holiday decorating, I found Mom's old Santa Claus stocking tucked away in a box. Wonderful memories of Christmas flooded in...
And, it was our first Christmas since her passing.
I found my hand reaching inside of that empty Santa stocking with childlike hope of finding a surprise from her... What happened next caught me by surprise, I pulled out a tiny piece of crumbled paper. It was a Hershey's Kiss banner from a foiled candy Kiss. I laughed. Mom always had a sweet tooth. The chocolate was long gone, but in that special moment I felt a love that went beyond time and space. A sweet heavenly kiss. Thanks, Mom. I smiled, through grateful tears, feeling lighter and brighter.
Yesterday at Angel Thrift, this smiling red ladybug planter was a sign Mom was near. The bright red planter now holds my Christmas cactus, the one I thought was a goner last year. It resurrected with little help from me bearing a gift of a big pink love blossom. During the holidays, it's comforting to know that our departed loved ones are with us in our hearts, now and always. Life will blossom again. And, our loved ones, like angels, draw near and bless us with love pats, heavenly air kisses, and moments of surprising joy. God is Love and has sent His angels to watch over us.
Love and blessings,
Rae Karen
