Christmas Thoughts - Happiness

 

How do we know what happiness is?  Is happiness the same for everyone?  These are some of the thoughts that wandered through my mind when I was picking up some last minute Christmas things.

I see people rushing here and there, yanking their children after them when all the while, the child wants to play in the play area or hopscotch on the tiles in the mallway. Kids just want to do things and be happy.  One little fellow said to his mother, "Let's go home.  I'm not happy here."

Happy seems to be a state of mind that just is.  One doesn't have to work at it.  It may be that it is a state of grace.  Or, maybe it is just a place of love – love of life and love of everything.

It is one more thought to explore this Christmas.

Many blessings,

Judy

Spirit Animal - Nightingale's Song

  

This picture of a Nightingale Bird from common-nightingale-night-5a959ce8c673350037c9f3a4.jpg (1500×1000) (thespruce.com)

Since I was little, I have been intrigued by tales of the Nightingale.  She is featured in many fairy tales, such as “The Nightingale” by Hans Christian Anderson.  In all of the stories, people want to own the Nightingale to possess her beautiful song.  

For this Christmas, Nightingale brings a message that true freedom is not about being able to capture and control things and people or animals; true freedom is about being free to let all beings act and live exactly as they are meant to… unconditionally as nature intended.

Nightingale’s message is also in this beautiful traditional Christmas carol from Spain. 

The Gift

A poor orphan girl named Maria
Was walking to market one day
She stopped for a rest by the roadside
Where a bird with a broken wing lay
A few moments passed till she saw it
For it's feathers were covered with sand
But soon clean and wrapped it was travelling
In the warmth of Maria's small hand
She happily gave her last peso
On a cage made of rushes and twine
She fed it loose corn from the market
And watched it grow stronger with time
Now the Christmas Eve service was coming
And the church shone with tinsel and light
And all of the townfolks brought presents
To lay by the manger that night
There were diamonds and incense
And perfumes
In packages fit for a king
But for one ragged bird in a small cage
Maria had nothing to bring
She waited till just before midnight
So no one would see her go in
And crying she knelt by the manger
For her gift was unworthy of Him
Then a voice spoke to her through the darkness
Maria, what brings you to me
If the bird in the cage is your offering
Open the door and let me see
Though she trembled, she did as He asked her
And out of the cage the bird flew
Soaring up into the rafters
On a wing that had healed good as new
Just then the midnight bells rang out
And the little bird started to sing
A song that no words could recapture
Whose beauty was fit for a king
Now Maria felt blessed just to listen
To that cascade of notes sweet and long
As her offerings was lifted to heaven
By the very first nightingale's song

                   -Unknown Author  

You can listen to Garth Brooks sing this beautiful Christmas song at The Gift - YouTube.  Remember that links to YouTube change over time so this song may disappear.

Many blessings,

Judy

From The Angels - Keep Your Inner Peace

 

I was in a situation yesterday where I was getting so upset with a family in a grocery store.  Normally, the grocery store is a soothing place with quiet music and staff that sometimes break into song. The family - Mom, Dad, and two kids about six and eight - were very loud and argued about everything.  Both parents were obviously not in a happy frame of mind and both parents were being very vocal and demeaning to their children.  

I was about to say something, if only for my peace, when my inner guidance - my angels speaking - reminded me to stay calm and peaceful and to project the calmness and the peacefulness to the family.  I took several deep breaths in and closed my eyes and strove to find the peacefulness I normally carry around with me.  I breathed it in and out.  I projected the peacefulness to all those around me.  I focused on walking in a sunny meadow.  I concentrated on my walk in the store.

Suddenly, I realized that it was much quieter in the store.  Perhaps the family left.  However, when I rounded into the next aisle, there was the family.  They were much quieter and looked more pleasant. Whatever calmed them was a welcome relief.

I realized then, how quickly a strongly negative influence like the unhappy family, could throw those around them into a more negative space.  Rotten apples in a barrel effect, it seemed.  I also realized that we all have to work at overpowering the negative with a positive influence.

Perhaps you will have the chance today to send peace and tranquility to someone who is unhappy.

Many blessings 

Judy