As the holidays approach us I would like to share some of my family history with you. My Grandma shared a lot of the traditions that were created over several generations with me when I was growing up. I remember putting the Christmas tree up early and leaving it up much later than most as a visual reminder of the Spirit of Christmas. She would hide our presents that she bought early and 'lose' one until a later date so that we were always reminded of the Christmas Spirit at another time of the year. Grandpa did "gifts of creation". He was an excellent baker and every year we would all receive a 'handmade' can of cookies from him. I remember digging into that can and eating half of it on Christmas morning. The cookies just melted in your mouth.

Well, many years later I was brave enough to try my hand at that particular cookie, Shnickerdoodles. They looked easy enough to make. At this point Grandpa had passed on and I had his cookbook. So I followed the directions and twelve hours later I had my first batch come out of the oven. I clearly remembered the look on his face each and every Christmas morning when I simply wolfed them down because they tasted so good. Grandpa gave me a lot more than just cookies. He gave me his time, his patience and his heart. I never would have realized had I not tried to make them myself. My memories of those Christmas mornings are so much richer now.

Some of the simplest acts of kindness...the simplest of traditions hold the most precious memories. It's not about the glitz and the glamour. It's about the gift coming from the heart…even if the gift can't be wrapped in pretty paper with a bow. I would have taken those cookies if they were handed to me in a paper towel. There was so many "ingredients" that went into making them that were never written down in the recipe, ingredients that came from the heart.

I have made it a point to share traditions with my daughter so that they are carried into the future. These are more than traditions to me. They are a way of life. My Grandparents taught me the value of "living" the Christmas Spirit everyday of the year. We shouldn't need a special season to find the love in our hearts for all of mankind. This world is so riddled with hatred, mistrust, disloyalty, prejudice and so many other negatives that I can't help but to reach out to as many people as I can each and every day. I don't do it for the recognition. It doesn't matter if anyone knows. What matters is taking the time to make a difference in someone's life. Sometimes just a smile in a grocery store to a little old lady will change her day. All the things we can do on a daily basis that don't cost us anything. In fact each time we reach out to a stranger we are rewarded with a smile inside that can make our own darkest days brighter.

All these little things we can do anytime and anywhere. We need to take this base foundation and build on it. The more we give, the more we grow, the Lighter we become. The more life means to us and the more we mean to life.

This holiday season give yourself and the world a gift. Open your hearts to the possibility of making a difference in the lives of others just by who you are and how you live your life. If you walk in the Spirit of all the holidays every day of your life you become a beacon of Light for the rest of the world. Your Light, your love for life will inspire others to follow your lead. The more people that realize that, yes, one individual can make a difference the greater the number of differences that are made.

Be that "Beacon of Light". Open your heart and light the way for others to follow. Make this holiday season about the real reasons behind it. Not the hustle and bustle of shopping and travel and dinners and gift-wrapping. Make it about the most precious gift of all...caring and sharing.

May your holidays be blessed with the sweetness Grandpa's cookies used to bring me and the memories that are left behind.

This year I would like to offer a gift to you. You will find in "Treasured Gifts" poetry that was entrusted to me. From this selection I have chosen some of my favorite prayers that I would like to share ~ "My Healing Prayer" and "Of Thee in Me". May they bring Light to your world today and always.

Many Hugs,
Dawn Ellen