Christmas Story: Christmas Day in the Morning

*** A story about how Love alone could awaken Love. And he could give the gift again and again...




From Denny: As an American high school kid living in Taiwan I was introduced to the author Pearl S. Buck. She grew up as a Christian missionary kid in mainland China during the 1930's and was one of the very first Westerners to bridge the cultural gap between China and the West in understanding. Buck wrote a lot of stories, recommended by both the local Taiwanese and the Christian missionaries, and I read them all back then since there was no TV in English. I read a lot of books, even took to reading the Encyclopedias when I ran out of material! :)

While this author may be considered simplistic and out of fashion at the moment, she still deserves a read in my mind. Why? One of the subtle cultural nuances that crept into her writing was the Chinese sentence structure: extreme sheer simplicity. Sometimes, later generations who have not lived abroad fail to pick up those intense subtleties and so write off her writing, failing to realize they are missing an opportunity to get inside the head of Chinese culture by reading about the smallest things in Life written in a simple way.  Parents with teenagers will definitely appreciate this story.

Pearl Buck wrote a lot on women's rights as well as mixed race adoption long before anyone thought about multi-culturalism.  Definitely she was ahead of her time.  She was fluent in Chinese and fought against racist attitudes long before that was popular as well.  This writer was definitely a class act!

This story was originally published in 1955, available here at Amazon: Christmas Day in the Morning

Love Light Silver Oval Necklace

Let your love light shine!

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Music: Pie Jesu by Celtic Woman

Learn the meaning and history of this traditional song, Pie Jesu, which hails from ancient Christianity, rearranged by composers throughout the centuries.

From Denny:  A very peaceful song indeed. Here is the short translation of two lines which summarize the song:

Pie Jesu, Pie Jesu, Qui tollis peccata mundi; Dona eis requiem, Dona eis requiem.
Agnus Dei, Qui tollis peccata mundi; Dona eis requiem, Sempiternam requiem.

Merciful Jesus, Who takes away the sins of the world; Grant them rest.
Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world; Grant them rest, Everlasting rest.


Here's an explanation of the meaning of the song from Answers.com and the English translation of the lyrics:

A Christmas Poem: Gifts From The Heart

Waging war in our society: the warm simplicity of gifts from the heart vs. the insecurity of goliath consumerism.




From Denny: Somehow this year's holiday season has taken on an intensified gravity since the economic downturn. Finally, after decades of excess consumerism, the whole world has turned their thoughts to serious and deeper thinking beyond how much they can spend at the local mall for Christmas. While I enjoy the giving of gifts as much as the next person, at some point it's wise to balance it with reflection upon the season. It's good to be generous with others on more levels than a present under the tree.

While I was researching for some wonderful Christmas quotes there are a number that stood out and really helped the thinking process for this poem story. Three are incorporated into the poem and here are a few more:

Christmas Story: Christmas Day in the Morning

JOYEUX NOËL in Portugal Photo by Rui Omelas @ flickr

*** A story about how Love alone could awaken Love. And he could give the gift again and again...

From Denny: As an American school kid living in Taiwan I was introduced to the author Pearl S. Buck. She grew up as a Christian missionary kid in mainland China during the 1930's and was one of the very first Westerners to bridge the cultural gap between China and the West in understanding. Buck wrote a lot of stories, recommended by both the local Taiwanese and the Christian missionaries, and I read them all back then since there was no TV in English. I read a lot of books, even took to reading the Encyclopedias when I ran out of material! :)

While this author may be considered simplistic and out of fashion at the moment, she still deserves a read in my mind. Why? One of the subtle cultural nuances that crept into her writing was the Chinese sentence structure: extreme sheer simplicity. Sometimes, later generations who have not lived abroad fail to pick up those intense subtleties and so write off her writing, failing to realize they are missing an opportunity to get inside the head of Chinese culture by reading about the smallest things in Life written in a simple way.

Jesus Christ LOVE Men's Long Sleeve Dark T-Shirt

Jesus Christ is LOVE

* * *  Support Warriors Pearl Foundation - helping homeless female military veterans come home.  Visit Denny Lyon Gifts  @ CafePress.com  -   - see what's new!