Survive I have.
Within that survival I discovered laughter, delight, excitement and most important of all – LOVE. 

It is with an overflowing of love that I wish you all:
A VERY HAPPY AND BLESSED CHRISTMAS!!!

The post A Survivor’s Christmas! appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.

“I’m going to stay awake until Father Christmas comes and ask him for a ride in his sleigh,” Patch, my six year old brother declared.
“He’ll never come unless we’re all asleep. I don’t know how he knows but he always does,” said Anne.
Eventually sleep claimed us and so did Father Christmas, laying stockings at the end of our beds.

We children walked into a lounge filled with presents, hot chocolate and steaming mince pies. The record player was on with Silent Night softly playing.
This is the wonderful memory I have of my childhood Christmas’s.

All over the world, people are celebrating at this time.
When I was at Durban University and we broke up for the holidays, I remember wishing my Hindu friend, Aakav, a happy Pancha Ganapati. This is a five day holiday that honours Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed lord of culture and new beginnings. The celebration begins on Dec. 21 and includes outings, picnics, feasts and gift giving.
“And a happy Christmas to you, Gaynor,” he said giving me a cheerful grin. 

The Jewish people celebrate Hanukkah, the festival of Light, from the 22nd December to the 30th December.
In the 2nd century BC, the Holy Land was ruled by the Syrian-Greeks. They tried to force the people of Israel to accept Greek culture and beliefs instead of mitzvah observance and belief in God. A small group of faithful but poorly armed Jews, led by Judah the Maccabee, defeated one of the mightiest armies on earth, drove the Greeks from the land, reclaimed the Holy Temple in Jerusalem and rededicated it to the service of God.
When they sought to light the Temple’s Menorah (the seven-branched candelabrum), they found only a single cruse of olive oil that had escaped contamination by the Greeks. Miraculously, they lit the Menorah and the one-day supply of oil lasted for eight days, until new oil could be prepared under conditions of ritual purity.
And so every year, the Jewish people light a Menorah.
I have a very precious friend, Jan Shapiro, who is Jewish. I think that on the 22nd I will WhatsApp phone her in London and wish her a Happy Hanukkah!

And then there are we Christians who celebrate the birth of Christ at Christmas. Christmas is a time of joy and love. In the First World War, the Germans and English had been firing at each other from their dismal trenches for days. Late on Christmas Eve, 1914, soldiers of the British Expeditionary Force heard German troops in the trenches nearby singing carols. They saw small lanterns and fir trees on the trench walls. Comments began to be shouted between the trenches. On Christmas Day, the two forces met in no mans land. There they showed photographs of loved ones and even exchanged the meagre gifts they had. An impromptu game of football began. They buried casualties and repaired trenches. The next day, the shots rang out once again.
Christmas was over.

This Christmas wish comes to all of you from the very depth of my heart. May your Christmas be a blessed one. May it be filled with joy and an inner happiness. May your eyes smile at all you meet and may you carry Christ’s smile deep within.
Perdita gives a woof, Spencer a ‘Carry on up the Khyber’ tune, and Gaynor, with a big smile, kisses your eyes and says:
“HAPPY CHRISTMAS, ONE AND ALL!”

The post Joy to the World! appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.

Why is it that as I get older, time seems to move faster and faster? When I was young, a week seemed to take positively eons. Now the months seem to whisk by. It was just yesterday that we welcomed in the new millennium! Suddenly it is Christmas eighteen years later and before you know it, I will be getting out of bed on 1st January 2019! 

I have learned to treasure each sense I possess. In 2019, I hope that I will walk with my eyes wide open, seeing vast skies and small, fluffy dandelions. I shall continue to be delighted by the sounds I used to take for granted: birds, children’s voices, wind, dog’s barking, people laughing. In 2019, I am going to listen more to people, hearing the things that lie close to their hearts. I shall relish my ability to taste the ambrosial Lindt white milk chocolate that I love so much! What a joy to be able to smell the early morning frost, beautiful perfumes and the fragrance of Perdita, my dog. My sense of touch was an ability that was never hindered in any way after my fall. Instead it grew more sensitive. I will savour this sense and be grateful.

So with my senses alert and well tuned, I hope to enter 2019.

May your Christmas and Hanukkah be filled with happiness. I know that my world will be awash with the blessed joy my Christ Child will bring……… 

The post Christmas Treasures! appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.

Christmas trees carry a feeling of warmth, laughter and good cheer wrapped within their boughs. It is said that they originated in Germany. In the winter, when the snow had fallen thickly, branches of fir trees were often carried inside by devout Christians. It was a way of reminding themselves that all was not dead. That life was still continuing and Spring would soon be here.

In the 16th century, Martin Luther, the German reformer, was walking home one night and the stars sparkling through the branches of the trees, entranced him. Getting home, he tried to explain the magic of that moment to his family.
“I wish you could have seen the sky through the trees tonight. It just took my breath away! Wait, I’ll try and show you.”
He erected a tree in his main room and tied lighted candles to it’s branches.
“There, that’ll give you some idea of the magic I experienced.”
That gesture caught on and people began to candle light their trees. The Christmas tree lights had arrived! When the light bulb entered the scene, it gleefully took over.

In the Middle Ages, the Christmas tree played a part in many European countries. It did not feature at all in America nor Britain. Christmas trees were seen as pagan symbols and were looked down on by the general public. In England, Oliver Cromwell preached against the “heathen traditions” of Christmas carols, decorated trees, and any joyful expression that desecrated “that sacred event.”
My instant reaction to this was wanting to ‘goose’ Oliver Cromwell and point out that ‘sacred events’ are also able to be joyful occasions filled with laughter! In 1659, the General Court of Massachusetts bought out a law making any observance of December 25 (other than a church service) a penal offence. People were fined for hanging decorations! To be surrounded by such thinking, I am sure that I would have rebelled and like Joan of Arc, would have been burned at the stake!

Thank goodness, in 1846 the British Queen Victoria married Prince Albert from Germany. He bought some of his traditions with him and that included the Christmas tree! A sketch appeared in the Illustrated London News of the two of them together with their children surrounding a Christmas tree. Queen Victoria was immensely popular not only with her subjects but world wide. What became popular in court was emulated in the country as a whole. Not only in Britain but with America immediately following suit.

The Christmas tree had arrived!

Last week, I arrived at Mums’ house and stood at the front door, my face creased into this enormous smile. The Christmas tree was up! It was vibrating with it’s lights and ornaments. With Christmas! I instantly wanted to break into song with Deck The Halls With Boughs of Holly, Fa la la la la la la la laaaaa….

Mums is fairly frail this Christmas, and she had put up the Christmas tree herself. Sitting there at the table, singing along to Bing Crosby’s White Christmas and other wonderful carols, she created a bit of Christmas magic for everyone that enters her lounge.
My friend, B, has a totally different Christmas tree and so does my golf coach, Val. Isn’t it strange how Christmas trees are like dogs. I mean, they are very indicative of their owners!

What infuriates me is that in this age of political correctness, some Americans and English people have stopped using the term Christmas. Instead of saying: ‘Happy Christmas!’ they will say, ‘Happy Holidays’. I will joyfully wish my Jewish friends a Happy Hanukkah! In the same way, I will accept a Happy Christmas from them. By saying Happy Holidays it is negating what is very precious to some people. Do these Happy Holiday people then have a Happy Holiday tree gracing their lounge, I wonder?

A Christmas tree epitomises Christmas to me. Christmas is about love. It is a time of family, friends, food, giving and sharing. Looking at a Christmas tree, big or small, I glory in it. My mind instantly turns to a stable in Bethlehem all those years ago. I picture a young teenage girl giving birth to the most influential being in the world, the Son of God. I think of wise men, shepherds and Angels.
I think of Christ!

With a smile, I wish you all a joyous Christmas!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
how lovely are your branches!
    In beauty green will always grow,
    through summer sun and winter snow;
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
how lovely are your branches!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
you are the tree most loved!
    How often you give us delight
    in brightly shining Christmas light!
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
you are the tree most loved!

O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
your beauty green will teach me
    that hope and love will ever be
    the way to joy and peace for me;
O Christmas tree, O Christmas tree,
your beauty green will teach me.

The post The Christmas Tree! appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.

The world is becoming a more dangerous place. There are now just 10 countries which are considered completely free from conflict – Botswana, Chile, Costa Rica, Japan, Mauritius, Panama, Qatar, Switzerland, Uruguay and Vietnam.
Ten countries! Isn’t that appalling?

The worsening conflict in the Middle East, the lack of a solution to the refugee crisis and an increase in deaths from major terrorist incidents have all contributed to the world being less peaceful in 2016 than it was in 2015. Goodness knows what 2017 will hold! We celebrate Christmas and Hanukkah praying for peace, love and joy. The Muslims while not celebrating Christmas, believe in truth, mercy and compassion. Hindus believe it is important to use the opportunity of a human birth to understand oneself and God. It seems every faith has noble, upright beliefs.
So, where then has mankind gone wrong?

In 1914 the First World War was raging. In December, on Christmas Day this happened:
I had tears pouring down my cheeks when I finished watching this film. Throughout history there have been wars. And they continue today. And they will continue in the years to come. So what can I do to alter the way the world works? I can’t make a difference on any battle field. No, my reach will have to be in a different sphere.

I will attempt to radiate a peace that extends beyond Christmas Day. I will appreciate others and continue to spread the ‘Christmas Spirit’ throughout the year.
May a deep peace, an inner joy and an outgoing love be with you all.
Throughout the year!!!

Silent Night
Holy Night
All is calm
All is bright
Round yon virgin
Mother and child
Holy infant
So tender and mild
Sleep in heavenly peace
Sleep in heavenly peace.

The post Peace, Love & Joy??? appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.

It also means its holiday time for me. I will speak to you all next year!
“I will be back!”

The post And now……. appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.

       Anne, Margs and I were always the three kings. Libby had wonderful clothes in which we adorned ourselves. Every year we would have the same argument over who was to wear the beautiful embroidered jacket! (I still lust over that jacket!) Margs said: “Let us follow yonder star. It will lead us to the baby, the Saviour of the world!” We three kings then set off across the lounge following Patrick’s star singing “We three kings of Orient are…” The star was meant to move to above Mary, Joseph and Jesus but instead it  got half way there then stopped. And refused to budge another inch! We three kings were meant to finish our song and say: “Look, the star has stopped over the stable…” Let me tell you the star was nowhere near the stable. It was stuck just past the piano and refused to budge! Patch said: “Hold on, just let me adjust the…”

The post Twas the night before Christmas……… appeared first on 'ear 'ear! by Gaynor Young.