The Spirit of Christmas
The world situation is sad
Perhaps rely on Memories Had
Some time ago
May the Sprit of Christmas
FILL your heart
And give you a fresh start
Reaching out to ALL
As Dickens and Tiny Tim said
“God bless us EVERY ONE”
© Forrest W. Heaton December 2024
Charles Dickens. As Charles Dickens wrote in A Christmas Carol and as advised on an internet search: “After Bob Cratchit raises a toast at the Christmas dinner table, Tiny Tim echoes the toast and includes everyone. "God bless us every one!" We learn that Tiny Tim is kind and able to offer an equal love to all mankind.”
World Situation. No one needs to tell you how much of a mess the world situation is in considering the war in Ukraine, the war in Israel, Palestine and Lebanon, the U.S. polarization and U.S. November election where the winning Presidential candidate doesn’t hold the U.S. Constitution in the same esteem the rest of us have for the last two hundred fifty years and has a stated position that “Climate Change is a hoax.” In our humble estimation our generation has utterly failed our responsibilities to our children and grandchildren, to respect each other and treat each other as we wish to be treated ourselves. Tiny Tim was right regarding “Everyone,” Every one of us, “We The People,” all leaders, all nations, all peoples.
Christmas. Each of us need to remember what our parents taught us when we were little about this season and what and who we are celebrating. Perhaps our memories are faded and need refreshing on this. We CAN do it. Nations can do it if the people demand. We CAN ask “God to bless us Everyone” and we CAN treat each person as we wish to be treated “Every One”, all of us.
All Religions. WE are including ALL religions, all peoples, not just those celebrating Christmas. We ask for mutual respect. We ask for rejection of leaders who violate these principles.
The Celebration of Christmas. The reason Charles Dickens wrote A Christmas Carol in 1843 was because he felt the celebration of Christmas in London at that time had dimmed and needed revitalizing. It was run by the church and not the people. He felt unregulated child labor was rampant in London and needed ceasing, He felt the people needed to respect all.
He succeeded marvelously. Perhaps your re-read of Dickens’ great work will help as it did then. In 2012, we travelled to 48 Doughty Street London, now a Dickens museum, once his home, to celebrate Dickens’ 200th birthday and learn more about his works and life. Below is my sketch of a lithograph of Dickens’ empty desk and chair the lithograph made immediately following his 1843 death.
Thank You. Thank you, Dear Readers, for our eight years of writing this blog about Parks, People, Poetry, and Planet! We celebrate you!