Garlands of Stardust

I've been thinking this week...
that the very best way to come to Christmas...
is like a child.
In fact, there's just no other decent way to turn up to the event.
Adults seem to regularly get themselves overwhelmed, underwhelmed, stressed & disillusioned...& sometimes a little confused.
But kids...they are just full of bouncy, can't-wait-wonder & anticipation.
I also figure, that babies don't care much for presents.
I imagine Jesus wasn't all that thrilled with the gold or the myrrh & frankincense...pfff!
But it doesn't take long & even by that first birthday children have become enthralled with the whole gift thing: scrunching the paper, blowing out those candles & all the fuss & laughter.
I wonder..what might delight the Son of God...wearing nappies (diapers) on his first birthday?
Through an odd chain of events, I found this wonderful picture at a twilight garage sale on Wednesday.
Utterly enchanting.
It's by Daphne Allen.
She had the sweetest imagination...A Christmas Dream, in fact.

Little angels presenting the Christ child gifts from heaven on his first birthday
Angel-made garlands of stardust & golden sparkles of sunlight.

When published in The London Illustrated News, it was said of this picture:
"Our Artist has let her fancy play round the notion that on the Christ Child's first birthday the little angels gave Him all that was most beautiful to deck a tree.
 First the stars played their part, each giving out a gleam which was transformed into a little star to shine on the branches in place of candles. The angels made garlands of star-dust, and gathered icicles and frosted fir-cones and sprays of ivy, sparkling dew-hung cobwebs and grasses and shining silver threads of rain, and glowing, many-coloured bubbles floated up from waterfalls. Brilliantly-coloured little birds came from the far places of the earth and hovered about the tree like living jewels, and bright butterflies, moths and dragon-flies joined them. The angels gathered ripe, glowing fruits, nuts and berries, and from the sea and running water they took the golden sparkle of sunlight and silver shimmer of the moon."


I will forever remember this story when I see a beautiful Christmas tree.

I have also been thinking this week that Christmas can be such a hard time for so many people. There is so much loss & suffering & loneliness & sometimes there is so little hope. Those who have lost their children recently...
hearts breaking..

Many thanks to Jo-Anne Coletti for the use of her poignant & beautiful photo.

For those that have lost loved ones there can be such an ache & emptiness.
Christmas-time can also be the hardest time of the year for some.
I found this beautiful poem on tumblr the other day. 
It's written by Tim Chambers.

Wing’s of the Angels

A gentle wind blew cross the land
Reaching out to take a hand
For on the winds the angels came
Calling out a child’s name.
Left behind, are many tears
Loving memories of the years
Of joy and love, a life yet lived
And now to God a child is sent.


On angel’s wings, a heavenly flight
The journey home, towards the light
To those who weep, a life is gone
But in God’s love, ‘tis but the dawn.

The Vision (another of Daphne Allen's pictures) found here.

Safe in tender care.

Only children could present the Christmas story quite like this..I do so love this very Kiwi version.

Yes indeed...may your Christmas be joyful, peaceful & bright!
Thank you so much for popping in. It is such a delight to have you visit me here. You can visit with Floss & other friends here.
With every blessing to you & your loved ones.
MUCH

 ♥♥♥♥♥