Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts
Showing posts with label happiness. Show all posts

Friday, December 25, 2020

Christmas 2020: A Day of Joy in a Season of Covid-19

The Library of Congress


Christmas 2020 is upon us, and
 once again, I would like to share a Christmas Day poem 
by the 19th-century Scottish poet and essayist, 
Robert Louis Stevenson 
reflecting our common humanity:


A Prayer for Christmas Morning
By Robert Louis Stevenson

The day of joy returns, Father in Heaven, and
crowns another year with peace and good will.
Help us rightly to remember the birth of Jesus, that
we may share in the song of the angels, the 
gladness of the shepherds, and the worship of the
wise men.

Close the doors of hate and open the doors of
love all over the world.

Let kindness come with every gift and good
desires with every greeting.

Deliver us from evil, by the blessing that Christ
brings, and teach us to be merry with clean hearts.

May the Christmas morning make us happy to 
be thy children.

And the Christmas evening bring us to our bed
with grateful thoughts, forgiving and forgiven, for 
Jesus's sake.

Amen.

Wishing kind thoughts for a Merry Christmas. 
Although we are of many faiths,
it is important that our common humanity 
allows us to share a season of peace and goodwill.
May each of you stay healthy in the days, weeks and months ahead.

Photo Illustration: 

Christmas Tree at the Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.; by Michael Dickens © 2019. 

Tuesday, December 24, 2013

Merry Christmas 2013: Carols everywhere






Merry Christmas from A Tuesday Night Memo.

•

Christmas Time is Here

Christmas time is here
Happiness and cheer
Fun for all that children call
Their favorite time of the year.

Snowflakes in the air
Carols everywhere
Olden times and ancient rhymes
Of love and dreams to share.

Sleigh bells in the air
Beauty everywhere
Yuletide by the fireside
And joyful memories there.

Christmas time is here
Families drawing near
Oh, that we could always see
Such spirit through the year.

•


Lyrics by Brian McKnight © Universal Music Publishing Group. Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC.
Original instrumental version written by Lee Mendelson and Vince Guaraldi for the 1965 TV special A Charlie Brown Christmas.
•
Photograph of Christmas tree ornament by Michael Dickens, at the Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, Calif. © 2013.

Sunday, June 26, 2011

The pleasure of our gardens, part 18


Mr. Lincoln rose / photographed on June 15 at 7:10 a.m. 

In the beauty of our garden,

There are many roses of different shapes and colors.

Like dear friends, each has a personality.

And, a story worth sharing.

Their names include:

All That Jazz, Mr. Lincoln, Queen Elizabeth and Angel Face.

Each comes alive during both sunshine and following rain.

Each is special: full of joy, love and happiness.

Although each is with us for only a brief time,

We are determined to make the most of our time together.

The memories of our roses live on in our minds.

And, thankfully, through my photographs.

Queen Elizabeth rose / Photographed on June 21 at 8:41 a.m.