My Christmas Wish

That each of us, whether we are alone, surrounded by fellow patients, or carefully, lovingly, carving out time with those we wish to love well, find the little miracle we need this Christmas. Reassurance, support, renewed stamina to fight the hard battles of humility that illness brings, acceptance and promise, and maybe, just maybe, a little magic -- just enough to remind us that we are, ever, beloved children, forever growing.

Amen

Blessed

Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love! ~Hamilton Wright Mabie

Longfellow

I heard the bells on Christmas day
Their old familiar carols play
And mild and sweet the words repeat,
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

I thought how as the day had come,
The belfries of all Christendom
Had roll'd along th' unbroken song
Of peace on earth, good will to men.

And in despair I bow'd my head:
"There is no peace on earth," I said,
"For hate is strong, and mocks the song
Of peace on earth, good will to men."

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:
"God is not dead, nor doth He sleep;
The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,
With peace on earth, good will to men."

'Til ringing, singing on its way,
The world revolved from night to day,
A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,
Of peace on earth, good will to men

Waterson Wit

The Pickwick Papers

Happy, happy Christmas, that can win us back to the delusions of our childish days; that can recall to the old man the pleasures of his youth; that can transport the sailor and the traveller, thousands of miles away, back to his own fire-side and his quiet home! ~Charles Dickens, The Pickwick Papers, 1836

Rob Rocks!!!

Cancer Horoscope for week of December 3, 2009

Lately you remind me of the person Robert Hass describes in his poem "Time and Materials": "someone falling down and getting up and running and falling and getting up." I'm sending you my compassion for the times you fall down, and my admiration for the times you get up, and my excitement for the times you run. It has probably become clear to you by now that the falling down isn't a shameful thing to be cursed, but rather is an instrumental part of the learning process that is teaching you marvelous secrets about getting back up and running.