Day 346/366 days Towards Self-Mastery.
If you're a mum with young children, this time of year is precious. There's nothing quite like the joy of children at Christmas.
Decorating the tree and your home together, making Christmas cookies to share with family and friends, wrapping gifts secretly and slipping them under the tree. It's a delightful time.
But what if you have a child that's hears that this whole Santa thing is a great big fib that parents tell their children at Christmas? How will you handle it?
My heart sinks just thinking about it.
When my son was little his godmother sent a Christmas book with a story about his adventures with Santa Clause.
The book included our address, and the names of friends and family. I read it to him each Christmas to his absolute delight.
Then one day he came home from school saying that someone told him there is no such thing as Santa Clause. He was devastated. It was a day I was dreading, but also one I had prepared for.
We talked about the magic of Christmas, about the real Saint Nicholas, where he lived and how he brought joy to many struggling families. We discussed how his spirit lives on in the Christmas season and through their parents who continue the Christmas traditions.
I taught my son early that there was more to this world than what we could see and measure, and some of the most interesting and fascinating magic happened in the invisible realms.
When he was a little older I took him to Europe and while we were there we visited the site of Saint Nicholas' grave in Italy. This seemed like a nice way to being closure to our discussions about the real Santa, acknowledging his presence long ago and the joy he brought to so many families. The only thing that upset him over the whole deal was the story in the Christmas book... and he forgave me. It had brought him so much joy that he realised that it was a very special gift as we read and reread that story each Christmas.
So prepare dear mothers, for the time when your children's dreams are dashed by someone who doesn't understand the magic of mystery and the joy of dreams and fantasies at this special time of year.
Where would we be if we only ever believed in what we could see and touch. We have a feeling sense as well that delights in the magic and joy of the unseen, in fairytales and garden elves. Let's not neglect these magical creatures of myth and legends but allow them to live on in our hearts and imaginations as we navigate our otherwise dreary lives.
366 days Towards Self-Mastery
When I considered my New Year's intentions for 2020 I had just one: To allow my heart to love what it loved...and let it lead me. (If not now, then when?)
I've spent months working on integrating my life. To live life more fully with my home life, my interests, my work, my responsibilities, all coming together, all connected. I want to give each the attention that they desire and need, and still have time and energy for the others. That means living and working from the heart.
As I was clearing out my bookshelf over the Christmas break I discovered Simple Abundance. I set it aside to explore it on New Year's Day as I lazed through another delicious day of nothingness. Sarah, the author, says this book is about living in grace. Living in grace I realised, is about Self-Mastery.
My thirst for understanding the human condition has driven me all my life, and hand-in-hand with self-mastery it has been a life-long goal. And seeing as I love to write, that living in grace is about self-mastery, and I love a bit of a challenge, then if I am truly going to let my heart lead, I really don't have any other choice. So scary as it feels, I'm starting out on a daily mission of leaning into the suggestions of this daybook and making a daily post to keep me accountable. If not now, then when?
I'm Josie. You can find out a little more about me here.
Simple Abundance: A Daybook of Comfort and Joy: by Sarah Ban Breathnach.
This book is written for the Australian and NZ market because it refers to seasonal changes. It's available on Amazon here if you'd like to follow along.
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